By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – Parker Stewart pumped in a game-high 26 points behind a career-best eight 3-pointers as the University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball team passed its final nonconference test with flying colors, claiming a 120-59 win against Crowley’s Ridge.
With the victory, the Skyhawks (8-5) tie their season win total from 2021-22 and also equal the 2002-03 and 2001-02 UT Martin teams for most consecutive home victories (seven) to start a season. The Skyhawks have now won four straight decisions for the first time since Feb. 7-16, 2019.
Stewart’s 26 points came on 9-of-12 shooting, including an 8-of-11 performance from three-point land. He was joined in double figures scoring by Jalen Myers (18 points, career-high eight rebounds), KJ Simon (16 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals), Jordan Sears (14 points, game-high five assists, four rebounds, two steals) and Desmond Williams (11 points, season-best four assists).
KK Curry secured a game-high 10 rebounds while Koby Jeffries posted a stat line of eight points, a career-high seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks as UT Martin shot 54.4 percent (43-of-79) from the field. The Skyhawks led for 39:08 of clock time, boasted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 26:6, splashed 15 three-pointers and held a 37-2 advantage in fast break points.
The Pioneers (3-10) were led by Bo Roberson’s 17 points while JD Smith added 11 points for the NAIA program located in Paragould, Ark.
“I’m really proud of our effort and our unselfishness,” UT Martin head coach Ryan Ridder said. “When you have the opportunity to play a non-Division I game at home and the lead expands, that’s kind of where your bad habits come out but I thought we did a great job of sharing the ball. Our guys feel comfortable and very confident playing inside this building – we’ll go into the holiday break feeling pretty good.”
Stewart canned a three-pointer on the Skyhawks’ opening possession of the game before Sears scored six points as part of an 8-0 UT Martin run, making the score 12-2 less than four minutes into the contest.
Stewart accounted for three more treys over a stretch of 1:46 before three-pointers on back-to-back trips down the floor from Williams pushed the Skyhawk advantage out to 29-13. Sears soon added trifectas on consecutive possessions before a 20-0 UT Martin run. The extended surge lasted 3:48 and featured contributions from Simon (six points), Stewart (six), Myers (four), Curry (two) and Chris Nix (two).
Jeffries wrapped up the first half with a pair of driving fingerroll layups at the rim to make the score 63-33 at the break. The 63 points marked the most in a first half since the Skyhawks put up 63 points against UC Clermont on Dec. 10, 2017 – a span of 148 games.
At the half, Stewart had 18 points on a scorching 6-of-7 effort from three-point range. Sears also had 14 points in the opening 20 minutes while Roberson’s 10 points paced Crowley’s Ridge.
The Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference duo of Simon (eight) and Stewart (five) combined for UT Martin’s first 13 points of the second half.
Myers started getting hot shortly thereafter as the sophomore forward out of Madison, Ala. was responsible for eight of the Skyhawks’ 11 points during one stretch – capped off with back-to-back old-fashioned three-point plays.
A fast break dunk by Rifen Miguel with 6:27 remaining made the score 100-55 as UT Martin zoomed into triple digits on the scoreboard for the third time this season. The Skyhawks soon pieced together 14 unanswered points, including three-pointers from Dylan Pumpian on back-to-back trips down the floor with under three minutes remaining. A dunk by Endicott with 24 seconds left tied for the largest lead of the evening and provided the final margin of 120-59.
UT Martin will take the next 10 days off from official competition before the rigorous 18-game OVC slate begins at Little Rock on Dec. 29.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information