Kenley McCarn brings the ball up court against South Dakota State on Nov. 18, 2023 at UT Martin. | Pacer photo / Erika O’Brien
Men’s basketball team off to a hot start
The Skyhawks men’s basketball team is off to a strong start this season with a 5-2 record. In those seven games, three have been at home and the other four have been at away. The Skyhawks are undefeated at home with a 3-0 record and have a .500 at away with a 2-2 record. The offense has looked good this season with 602 points scored, 96 assists, and 384 total shots made out of 796. The defense has been holding things up on their end as well by only allowing 561 points; having 60 steals; and 19 blocks. Notable individual performances so far this season include guard Jordan Sears with 156 points scored and 27 assists; guard Jacob Crews with 114 points and 68 rebounds; forward Issa Muhammad with 10 steals, 4 blocks and the highest field goal percentage on the team at 56.5%; and forward KK Curry with 7 steals, 5 blocks and the most free throws made with 26 of 32. The team is currently on a strong two-game win streak with a win of 105 to 103 over the North Alabama Lions in second overtime at home and a 23-point victory, with a score of 94 to 71, over the Chicago State Cougars at Chicago, Illinois. They will be looking to extend their win streak to three this Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. against the Rice University Owls.
Women’s basketball team faces challenges
UT Martin women’s basketball team starts the 2023 season ice cold with an 0-6 record through their first six contests. The Skyhawks lost their season opener to the 23rd-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles 84-51. The Golden Eagles outscored the Skyhawks by 13 points in the first quarter and never looked back. This was nothing to hang their head on for the Skyhawks; however, slow starts continue to plague the team, who have been outscored in the first quarter of five of the first six games this season. Big deficits early in games has made obtaining wins extremely difficult for the team. Kenley McCarn leads the Skyhawk offense averaging 12.5 ppg. Forward Anaya Brown leads the team in rebounds and blocks averaging 6.7 and 1.3 in the respective categories. Love Mays leads the Skyhawks in steals averaging 2.2 per contest. The Skyhawks have suffered hits as some of the women have been tagged with injuries. UT Martin women’s basketball looks to right the ship on Saturday, Dec. 2, against the Evansville Purple Aces. The Purple Aces have only one win this season through their first five games.
