BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference issued its last men’s basketball weekly award winners of the 2023-24 season this morning as University of Tennessee at Martin stars Jordan Sears (Player of the Week) and Jacob Crews (Newcomer of the Week) were each spotlighted.
Today’s announcement puts the finishing touches on a remarkable Skyhawk run through the OVC’s in-season awards as UT Martin accounted for seven Player of the Week and six Newcomer of the Week honors in 2023-24. Sears’ third OVC Player of the Week accolade puts him in exclusive company as he joins Crews (2023-24), Quintin Dove (2019-20), Lester Hudson (2008-09, 2007-08) and Michael Hart (1995-96) as the only Skyhawks to win that award at least three times in a single season. Meanwhile, Crews’ fifth OVC Newcomer of the Week honor ties him with KJ Simon (2021-22), Parker Stewart (2019-20) and Hudson (2007-08) for the most in school history.
The duo of Sears and Crews helped lead UT Martin to just its second OVC regular season championship in school history last week as the Skyhawks defeated Tennessee Tech (80-69 on Feb. 29) and Tennessee State (96-87 on March 2). That gave UT Martin its 14th OVC win of the season – tying the 2008-09 team for the most in program history.
Sears averaged 31.0 points per game, shooting 40 percent (10-of-25) from three-point range and 95.2 percent (20-for-21) from the free throw line. The junior guard out of Daytona Beach, Fla. also added 6.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game while committing only three turnovers in 80 minutes.
On Saturday against Tennessee State, Sears helped the Skyhawks overcome a double-digit second-half deficit by pouring in 29 of his game-high 34 points in the final 20 minutes. He added a game-high six assists and five rebounds. Two days earlier against Tennessee Tech, he pumped in game-highs of 28 points (20 in the second half) and seven assists while adding five rebounds.
A Hilliard, Fla. native, Crews accounted for 23.0 points per outing while connecting on 47.1 percent (8-for-17) of his tries from three-point land. He was also a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe while grabbing 8.0 rebounds per contest.
Crews’ best game of the week also came on Saturday against Tennessee State as he tossed in 20 of his 33 points in the opening half. He ended his day with nine rebounds – becoming just the fourth player in school history to reach at least 500 points and 250 rebounds in a single season. Facing Tennessee Tech on Thursday, he compiled 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
These two will be back in action on Friday, March 8 when the Skyhawks open their participation in the OVC Championship tournament in the semifinal round at 9:30 p.m.
