BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Tarence Guinyard became only the fifth University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball representative to win both Ohio Valley Conference Player and Newcomer of the Week accolades on the same day as the junior guard brought home both awards this afternoon.
Guinyard joins Jacob Crews (three times in 2023-24), Issa Muhammad (Jan. 29, 2024), Deville Smith (Dec. 22, 2013) and JC Howe (Dec. 16, 2002) as the only players in Skyhawk history to accomplish that impressive feat. Guinyard is the second UT Martin recipient of an OVC weekly honor in 2024-25, joining Josué Grullon (OVC Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 11).
A Tampa, Fla. native, Guinyard put on a show in the Skyhawks’ two games this past week as UT Martin split against Alabama State (lost 103-93 in overtime on Wednesday) and Champion Christian (won 123-56 yesterday). He produced back-to-back career-best 31-point performances, scoring 60 of those 62 points in his final 39-plus minutes of playing time. He shot a sizzling 65.6 percent (21-of-32) from the floor, including a 5-for-7 effort (71.4 percent) from three-point land. He added 15 free throws in 19 attempts (78.9 percent) to go along with eight assists on the week.
Guinyard helped the Skyhawks overcome a 23-point deficit with 6:59 to go in regulation to force overtime. He scored 29 of UT Martin’s final 52 points over a stretch of 17:57, becoming the first Skyhawk to break the 30-point plateau off the bench since Quintin Dove on Jan. 30, 2020. Guinyard ended his evening with 31 points and seven rebounds plus team-highs of three assists and two steals.
The 6-2, 170-pounder followed that with another extremely efficient outing against Champion Christian. He set career-highs across the board with 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists in just 22 minutes of playing time. He was 11-for-15 from the floor and was perfect behind both the three-point arc (4-of-4) and the charity stripe (5-for-5).
Guinyard currently ranks 11th in the OVC in scoring at 15.2 points per contest while additionally averaging 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 24.4 minutes.
UT Martin begins OVC play this week, starting with a Thursday, Dec. 19 matchup at Morehead State.
