Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Old conference foes Eastern Kentucky University (2-1, 0-0 ASUN) and Tennessee-Martin (3-1, 0-0 OVC) met for the first time since the 2020-21 season in a highly anticipated non-conference game, but the Skyhawks escaped with an 80-74 win on Friday.
 
UT Martin finished 19-14 (10-8 OVC) one season ago and put up 80.8 points per game while doing so, ranking 14th nationally.  The expectation entering tonight's game was a high-flying game from both teams.  
 
The Colonels got out to a 12-7 lead early on, but it was the Skyhawks who took control of the first half courtesy of a 12-0 run to grab a 19-12 lead with 13 minutes left in the first stanza.  

UTM wing Jacob Crews had 13 of the Skyhawk's first 30 points, connecting on three's and making tough putbacks while the Colonels continued to fire three's to no avail. 
 
Leland Walker made an effort to get the Colonels back in it after UTM grabbed a 7-point lead, driving and scoring right up the back of the Skyhawks defense.  UT Martin coach Ryan Ridder called a timeout and the lead ballooned right back to eight at 37-29 with 3:20 left in the first. 
 
Crews finished the first half with 18 points, connecting on 4-of-9 three-point attempts. Walker led all Colonels with 10 points and Colonel big man Isaiah Cozart was held to just two points in 20 minutes of action.  
 
EKU shot the ball just 5-for-18 from 3-point range in the first half compared to UTM's 8-for-17 from deep, allowing UTM to grab a 46-36 lead.  
 
The second half started with EKU cutting the lead to a 46-38 UTM advantage, but the Skyhawks took control right away, extending the edge to 65-48.
  
The Colonels stormed back after the under eight timeout, cutting a 72-60 UT Martin lead to just two with 4:07 to play thanks to a ratcheted-up EKU defense and hustle on the offensive end. 
Tayshawn Comer and Cozart proved paramount down the stretch, leading a Colonel charge back to make it 72-70 with 3:30 left – a whole new ballgame. 
 
In a crucial possession with 48 seconds to go, Issa Muhammad delivered – tipping the ball back in off a third straight miss at the rim by the Skyhawks, extending the lead to 78-74 with 21.2 seconds remaining.  
 
Skyhawk guard KK Curry blocked Comer's three with 14 seconds left and the Skyhawks slammed it down in transition with six seconds left to seal the game shut at 80-74. 
 
Tennessee-Martin's Jordan Sears chipped in 14 second half points to lead a poised charge in a major win for UTM. Four Skyhawks ended the game in double figures, with Crews leading the way with 20.  
 
For the game, UTM shot the ball at a 34-for-74 (45.9 percent) clip and made 11-of-26 three-pointers (42.3 percent), with an even 13-13 assist to turnover mark. EKU shot the ball at just 29-for-79 (36.7 percent) and connected on only 9-of-32 three-pointers (28.1 percent).
  
Walker continues to shine for the Colonels, putting up 21 points and 5 rebounds on 9-of-19 from the floor. Cozart finished with 13 and six on 5-of-8 from the floor.  
 
EKU is back at home on Tuesday at 12 p.m. for a matchup with Prairie View A&M (2-2, 0-0 SWAC).