MARTIN, Tenn. – The highly anticipated 2023-24 University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball season officially gets underway when the Skyhawks play host to the Champion Christian Tigers on Monday, Nov. 6. Tipoff time from the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center is scheduled for 6 p.m.
UT Martin is opening a season at home for the first time since 2020-21 and will look to build on a pair of impressive streaks. Since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992, the Skyhawks are 8-0 in true season openers held at the Elam Center while going 65-0 against non-NCAA Division I squads.
Coming off a 19-win campaign and an appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship semifinals, UT Martin returns six players and two starters in head coach Ryan Ridder’s third season. Both Skyhawk returning starters (KK Curry and Jordan Sears) received Preseason All-OVC accolades as the league’s head coaches and communication directors tabbed UT Martin to finish fourth in this year’s preseason standings.
This game marks the second straight season that the Skyhawks have faced the Tigers, a National Christian College Athletic Association program based out of Hot Springs, Ark. In last year’s home opener, Jalen Myers went off for a career-high 23 points on 11-of-13 shooting in just 19 minutes off the bench, leading UT Martin to a 124-65 triumph. Curry pitched in 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds as the Skyhawks set a school record for most field goals made (52 in 89 attempts).
Champion Christian, who opened its season on Oct. 27 against future UT Martin opponent Ecclesia (75-74 win), is coming off a 97-77 road setback at Williams Baptist on Saturday. Senior guard AJ Williams has gotten off to a sizzling start as he pumped in 30 points in a Oct. 28 home victory against Bacone.
Last season against the Skyhawks, Xavier Hall showed out for a game-high 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including a 7-for-11 effort from three-point land.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ as Davis Gregory (play-by-play) and Chris Brinkley (color) will have the call live from courtside on WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM. Those links, plus a link to live stats, can be found above.
