MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball team dropped a 79-72 decision to Eastern Illinois in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center this evening.
The game was knotted at 38-all at the halftime break but a 14-4 Panther run early in the second half proved to be the difference. The Skyhawks (9-7, 2-1 OVC) were hampered by 16 turnovers and a 5-of-18 effort (27.8 percent) from three-point range.
Jordan Sears went off for a game-high 26 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting performance. KK Curry added 16 points and a season-high three steals while Jacob Crews (eight points, team-best nine rebounds), Kenny White, Jr. (eight points, eight rebounds) and Justus Jackson (eight points) were on the verge of scoring in double figures for UT Martin.
Eastern Illinois (7-8, 1-1 OVC) were paced by the trio of Tiger Booker (21 points), Corey Sawyer, Jr. (20 points) and Kooper Jacobi (19 points). The Panthers shot 42.3 percent (11-for-26) from beyond the three-point arc.
“Give Eastern Illinois credit – they were ready to go from the start,” Skyhawk head coach Ryan Ridder said. “I thought we faced a little adversity early and never got in a rhythm. This is what OVC play looks like – every day is a battle. We have to get refocused – I have no doubt we will bounce back and figure it out.”
Curry was responsible for five of the Skyhawks’ first nine points before Sears reeled off seven straight UT Martin points as the lead changed hands 11 times with three ties in the first 10:41.
Back-to-back driving layups by White and four consecutive points by Jackson resulted in a 26-21 Skyhawk advantage with 7:35 to go in the opening half.
UT Martin held a lead for nine-plus minutes in the first half, twice extending its advantage out to six points but Eastern Illinois went on a 6-0 run in the final 83 seconds of the first half to result in a 38-38 tie at the break.
Sears (11 points) and Booker (15) guided their respective squads in scoring in the opening 20 minutes.
The Panthers scored seven of the first nine points of the second half but a Crews triple and Sears fast break layup evened the score at 45-all with just under 17 minutes to go.
The aforementioned 14-4 Eastern Illinois run would soon follow. A steal and fast break layup by Sears shaved the Skyhawk deficit from 10 to four points (59-55) at the under-11-minute media timeout.
The Panthers went back on top by double digits (65-55) with 7:27 remaining but once again UT Martin fought back to within four after a Sears turnaround jumper in the paint at the 4:50 mark.
However, Eastern Illinois hit a three-pointer on its next possession and the Skyhawks would not get any closer than six points the rest of the way.
UT Martin returns to the hardwood next Thursday, Jan. 11 when it hosts OVC newcomer Western Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. as part of the backend of a doubleheader at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
