EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a back-and-forth battle that featured 10 lead changes and four tie scores, the University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball squad came up just short in a 98-91 decision at Evansville this evening.
The Skyhawks (6-6) led by four points at the halftime break and held a seven-point advantage with 13:30 remaining but the Purple Aces used an 11-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. UT Martin was able to shave its deficit to three points late but Evansville was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 25 seconds.
Jordan Sears scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, adding a team-high four assists with six rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes of action. Jacob Crews notched his fourth double-double of the season with 25 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while Justus Jackson (15 points, team-high four assists) became the third Skyhawk starter to score in double figures. UT Martin also received a big boost out of Kenny White, Jr., who was responsible for 15 points in 21 minutes off the bench in his Skyhawk debut.
The Purple Aces (9-2) had five players score in double digits, led by Kenny Strawbridge’s 21 points. Yacine Toumi (15 points), Ben Humrichous (15), Tanner Cuff (14) and Chuck Bailey III (12) also aided Evansville, who shot 56.3 percent (18-for-32) in the second half and doubled up the Skyhawks (24-12) from the charity stripe for the contest.
“That was a good mid-major basketball game,” UT Martin head coach Ryan Ridder said. “Obviously we’re disappointed with the result but Evansville is a good team and we just couldn’t get enough stops. Our nonconference schedule has been challenging and our guys are fighting – there’s a lot of good in that group right now.”
After the Purple Aces scored the first five points of the game, Sears got the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with a strong take to the hoop at the 18:23 mark. A straightaway three-pointer from Jackson soon ignited a 9-0 UT Martin run as Crews went off for the final six points of the surge.
A 7-0 Evansville run followed and the Purple Aces eventually led by a 27-21 margin with 11 minutes to go in the first half before the Skyhawks reeled off 11 unanswered points. Jackson (three), Desmond Williams (three), Crews (three) and White (two) each contributed points during the surge which flipped a six-point deficit into a five-point UT Martin lead.
Two more ties and two lead changes followed before the Skyhawks maintained a 44-40 advantage at the half.
Crews’ 13 points led all scorers at the break while White and Jackson each had 10 points for UT Martin, who shot an even 50 percent (18-of-36) while committing just four turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. Evansville was guided by Strawbridge (12 points) and Humrichous (11) as the team was limited to 37.5 percent shooting (15-for-40) from the field.
The Purple Aces began the second half on a 7-0 run before back-to-back layups from David Kamwanga stalled the momentum. Sears then took over, scoring 10 of the Skyhawks’ next 12 points to give UT Martin a 60-53 lead with 14:15 left to play.
However, Evansville eventually went on a 17-2 run. Following a Sebastian Mendoza reverse layup at the 11:25 mark that kept the Skyhawks on top by a 66-65 margin, UT Martin did not make another field goal until a Crews floater with 6:02 to go.
The Skyhawks had one more surge in them, cutting their deficit to a single possession late. Sears canned a pair of treys before a Jackson old-fashioned three-point play and Crews trifecta made the score 89-85 with a minute left. Sears came away with a steal and knocked down a pair of free throws to pull UT Martin within three points (92-89) with 25 seconds to go. However, time ran out on the Skyhawks’ valiant comeback attempt.
UT Martin puts the finishing touches on nonconference play on Wednesday, Dec. 20 when it returns home to take on William Woods. Tipoff from the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center is scheduled for 2 p.m.
