MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time in a dozen days, the University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball team dropped a decision as the Skyhawks’ three-game winning streak ended in an 86-75 setback to Tennessee State.
UT Martin shot 51 percent (25-for-49) from the floor and forced 17 turnovers but the visiting Tigers used a 22-3 run late in the second half to create some separation. The Skyhawks (12-16, 8-9 Ohio Valley Conference) connected on 65.2 percent of their field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes but could not overcome their deficit.
Tarence Guinyard topped UT Martin with 20 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting while also leading the Skyhawks with three steals. Josué Grullon registered 12 points while Carlos Cotrijo chipped in 10 points and a team-high four assists to round out UT Martin’s double-digit scorers. The frontcourt trio of Vladimer Salaridze (nine points), Andrija Bukumirović (eight points, team-best nine rebounds) and Lamine Niang (seven points, two blocks) also provided quality scoring nights for the Skyhawks, who held a 22-12 edge in fast break points.
Tennessee State (14-14, 10-7 OVC) placed five scorers in double figures, led by Knute Wood (19 points) and Ronald Jessamy (16 points, 11 rebounds) off the bench. Carlous Williams (15 points), Aaron Nkrumah (12 points, game-high six steals) and Travis Harper II (12 points) additionally aided the Tigers.
“Tennessee State is a such a good team and we knew it would be a battle but unfortunately we weren’t up for the challenge tonight,” UT Martin head coach Jeremy Shulman said. “I thought our mentality wasn’t right from the get-go and that’s disappointing but that happens sometimes with a young team. We’ll go back to the drawing board and get ready for Tennessee Tech.”
The Tigers led by seven points in the first 4:01 but back-to-back three-pointers from Salaridze gave the Skyhawks a 15-14 advantage with 9:52 to go in the opening half. After Grullon splashed a long two-point jumper a little over a minute later, Tennessee State went on the aforementioned extended run to take a 37-20 edge at the 2:56 mark.
Guinyard scored his first four points of the evening in the final 33 seconds of the first half to pull UT Martin within 40-27 but the Tigers hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to claim a 16-point advantage at the break.
The Skyhawks started the second half on a roll with a Grullon triple and Bukumirović dunk on their first two trips down the floor. However, Tennessee State answered with back-to-back three-pointers.
Moments later, UT Martin went on a 7-0 run that was capped off with a Guinyard trifecta that shaved the Skyhawk deficit to 66-54 midway through the half.
After Tennessee State took its biggest lead of the night at 79-56, UT Martin unreeled a 17-4 run with 11 of those points coming from Guinyard. His stepback three-pointer with 1:13 remaining got the Skyhawks within 10 points (83-73) but that was ultimately as close as UT Martin would get the rest of the way.
The Skyhawks will travel across the state on Thursday, Feb. 21 when they take on Tennessee Tech. Tipoff from Cookeville is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.