By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball team received big outings from Bernie Andre and KJ Simon this evening but could not break through in an 88-75 setback at Tennessee Tech. The Skyhawks conclude the 2021-22 campaign with an 8-22 overall record and 4-14 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Playing in the final game of his collegiate career, Andre compiled 25 points – his most in a UT Martin uniform – on 11-of-18 shooting. He also snared a game-high 11 rebounds, marking the sixth double-double of the season for the graduate forward from North Miami Beach, Fla.
Simon collected 21 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Skyhawks tonight. In the process, he vaulted past the 500-point plateau for the season – becoming the first UT Martin guard to accomplish that feat since Jacolby Mobley in the 2016-17 season.
Mikel Henderson registered eight points and a career-high six assists while Chris Nix grabbed seven rebounds for the Skyhawks, who only committed six turnovers while shooting 58.8 percent (20-of-34) in the final 20 minutes.
Tennessee Tech (10-20, 7-10 OVC) landed five scorers in double figures, led by 18 points out of Kenny White, Jr. He was joined by Diante Wood (17), Jr. Clay (15), Shandon Goldman (13) and Keishawn Davidson (12).
“I’ve been so proud of how resilient this group has been,” UT Martin head coach Ryan Ridder said. “We did not get the results that we all wanted this year but we’re building a program here and it takes time. Our foundation is strong and this is just the beginning, success doesn’t happen overnight. There’s going to be a day that we hang a banner in the Elam Center and this group set the foundation. This group did the right thing day-by-day and will be successful in life after basketball – that’s what’s most important.”
Andre was rolling early as he knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the first 39 seconds to give the Skyhawks a 6-0 advantage. The Golden Eagles scored five straight points but Simon threw down a dunk at the 16:44 mark to keep UT Martin on top at 8-5.
Tennessee Tech then unreeled eight consecutive points as part of a 12-2 run. A second-chance layup from David Kamwanga – combined with a Grant Hurst free throw and Andre layup – got the Skyhawks back within six points (21-15) midway through the opening stanza.
Following another Kamwanga layup, the Golden Eagles used an 8-0 run to go ahead by a 35-19 margin. Henderson sank a stepback jumper and KK Curry nailed a trey from the left corner to chip away at the deficit but Tennessee Tech managed to take a 37-24 lead into the halftime break.
Andre’s 10 points were a game-high at the intermission while Amadou Sylla and White, Jr. each produced eight points apiece for the Golden Eagles.
Tennessee Tech made a three-pointer on the opening possession of the second half but UT Martin responded with the next nine points of the contest. Koby Jeffries (two free throws), Henderson (three-pointer), Nix (layup) and Andre (hook shot) each provided points during the Skyhawk surge, which allowed UT Martin to whittle its deficit down to seven.
Simon pumped in eight of the Skyhawks’ next dozen points, helping UT Martin close its gap to just two points (50-48) at the 12:22 mark.
The Golden Eagles tallied the next six points before Simon hit a pair of free throws. Andre then went on a scoring tear, tossing in 11 straight Skyhawk points. That stretched helped UT Martin stay within five points with 9:15 to go but unfortunately that was as close as the Skyhawks would get the rest of the way.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information