LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball team equaled a school record for three-point field goals made against a NCAA Division I opponent this afternoon but ultimately fell by a 91-80 margin at McNeese.
The Skyhawks connected for 16 three-pointers on a 43.2 percent clip, coming up just one shy of the all-time program record of 17 set last season against Bethel. UT Martin accomplished that feat against one of the nation’s best defenses as the Cowboys entered the contest ranking eighth in NCAA Division I men’s basketball in scoring defense (58.8 points allowed per game).
Jacob Crews topped the Skyhawks (5-4) in scoring for the fourth time this season, tossing in 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting (including four treys). The Hilliard, Fla. native additionally grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and handed out a career-best three assists.
Justus Jackson scored 17 points – thanks in large part to a 5-for-7 effort from three-point range – while distributing a career-high six assists with four rebounds in 26 minutes for UT Martin. Jordan Sears (nine points), Issa Muhammad (eight points, co-game-high nine rebounds), KK Curry (eight points) and Sebastian Mendoza (eight points) almost reached double figures in the scoring column for the Skyhawks.
Receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, McNeese (7-2) was led by Shahada Wells’ 25 points while Christian Shumate also contributed 22 points. Omar Cooper and DJ Richards added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for a Cowboy squad who committed just four turnovers.
McNeese began the game on an 8-2 run before Desmond Williams drained a three-pointer to pull UT Martin back within one possession at the 14:23 mark of the first half. An 8-0 Cowboy run followed as McNeese went back ahead by double digits.
Jackson and Crews both knocked down three-pointers in a 79-second span to help the Skyhawks get back within nine points (29-20) with seven minutes to go in the opening half. Nine unanswered Cowboy points led to a 38-20 UT Martin deficit but Sears swished back-to-back treys before the under-4 minute media timeout.
Jalen Myers and Sears added a three-pointer each while Muhammad (two free throws) and Curry (steal and fast break layup) helped shave the Skyhawk deficit to 49-36 at the intermission.
Crews (10 points) and Shumate (16) guided their respective squads in scoring in the first 20 minutes.
Layups from Curry and Koby Jeffries opened the scoring in the second half as those buckets allowed UT Martin to get back within single digits (49-40). McNeese then used another 8-0 surge to lead 57-40 with 16:34 to go.
The duo of Crews and Mendoza combined to score the Skyhawks’ next 11 points before a Jackson three-ball midway through the second half trimmed UT Martin’s deficit to 65-56.
After the Cowboys went back on top by 15 points, Jackson nailed a trio of three-pointers as part of 11 consecutive Skyhawk points. However, UT Martin could not get any closer than nine points for the remainder of the contest.
The Skyhawks will take next week off for final examinations before playing in front of the home crowd for the first time in 18 days. UT Martin will host Ecclesia on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. inside the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
