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Skyhawks slip EKU 76-74


The Men's Skyhawk basketball team is officially on a streak, after winning their third straight Ohio Valley Conference game against Eastern Kentucky University, 76-74, Saturday night in the Elam Center.

During the first half, the score remained fairly close, although the Skyhawks never regained the lead after the first minute of the game.

The farthest in front the Colonels managed to get was six points. UTM used EKU's nine turnovers to their advantage though, scoring 13 points off of them. At the end of the half, UT Martin was within four, 37-41.

Although the Skyhawks scored first, the second half didn't look good for UTM. The Colonels out scored UTM 11-5 in the first five minutes.

EKU then increased their lead to 14 points with 12 minutes left.

The Skyhawks then turned right around and went on a 21-9 run to pull within one, 67-68, with 3:02 left on the clock. Thanks to last minute points by Jared Newson, who led the team in scoring for the second game in a row with 25, the Skyhawks tied the game at 71, with 1:06 left on the clock.

Newson followed up his tying free-throws with a shaky, one handed floater to give UTM the lead with 0:32 left.

The Skyhawks increased their lead to four with 11 seconds left after sophomore guard Aaron Ferrell drew a foul off EKU guard Matt Witt and sank both free throws.

Colonel guard Ben Rushing attempted to start some final second heroics of his own with a shot that had to be reviewed to determine whether it was a three pointer.

The officials decided that he was inside the arc and it was ruled a two pointer, putting the score at 75-73. Rushing then added one more point with a free-throw, cutting the Skyhawk's lead to one.

Jeremy Kelly increased that lead by sinking a free-throw with four seconds left on the clock. EKU's Rushing went for the miracle shot from half court, which failed, bouncing off of the left side of the goal.

UTM had two players finish in double digits: Newson with 25, and Kelly with 16. Kelly also had nine steals on the night.
EKU had four in double figures: Michael Haney with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Rushing finished with 14, and Mike Scott and Tim Volpenhein each contributed 10.

This win increases UTM's confrence record to 3-5, and 8-12 overall. The Skyhawks are now tied with EKU in the OVC standings.

UTM looks to move up in the OVC standings, going on a four game road trip thoughout the region, starting with Southeastern Missouri State, Thursday, February 5th.