Despite coming within nine points of the lead late in the second half, the UTM men’s basketball team ultimately fell to the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Belmont Bruins, 87-72, on Saturday.
The game was the second in a basketball doubleheader; UT Martin’s women’s team had won their game earlier in the day.
The loss drops UTM to a record of 5-14; this was their sixth consecutive defeat. The Skyhawks are currently winless in four OVC games.
Senior guard Mike Liabo led UTM in scoring, with a total of 20 points. Meanwhile, redshirt junior center Marshun Newell pulled down 11 rebounds, the most of any player on the court; however, he would foul out with 39 second remaining, joining junior forward Myles Taylor, who had fouled out roughly two minutes prior. The Bruins were carried by sophomore guard Craig Bradshaw, senior guard/forward JJ Mann, and freshman guard/forward Evan Bradds, who scored 22, 19, and 18 points respectively.
The Skyhawks started slowly as the Bruins piled up a rather large lead. UTM made just 20.7% of field goal shots, in stark contrast to Belmont’s 60.7% mark. Belmont held a significant advantage underneath the basket, scoring 42 points in the paint compared to Martin’s 30. UTM would trail by 23 at the half.
After the break, though, the Skyhawks appeared to come alive. Throughout the second half of the game, UTM appeared to be a completely different basketball team, shooting a much more impressive 43.9% the rest of the way. In fact, the Skyhawks actually outscored Belmont in the second half, 49-41. Unfortunately, the late rally was not enough to catch the Bruins off guard, and Belmont was able to hold on for the victory.
The Skyhawks were nothing if not opportunistic on offense, holding an advantage in second chance points (16 to Belmont’s 4) and points off turnovers (14 to 8). Both teams’ benches had plenty of work to do; Belmont held a small 24-23 lead in bench points.
The Skyhawks will look to end their skid on Monday against the Tennessee State Tigers. At 2-15, the Tigers are the only OVC team with a record worse than that of the Skyhawks. Belmont, meanwhile, will visit Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.
