CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a critical second-half surge, the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks overcame a sloppy performance and a tenacious Eastern Illinois defense to secure a 76-68 victory in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball clash Thursday night at Lantz Arena.

The Skyhawks, who entered with a 58% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, saw their record improve to 16-5 overall and 6-2 in the OVC. The Panthers fell to 9-13 and 3-5.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the second half, where Tennessee-Martin’s superior offensive efficiency finally broke open a contest that was deadlocked at 37 at halftime. While the Skyhawks committed a staggering 18 turnovers leading to 20 Eastern Illinois points, they countered with exceptional shooting accuracy. Tennessee-Martin shot 53% from the field and 39% from three-point range, finishing with an offensive rating of 110.9 points per 100 possessions. Eastern Illinois, despite forcing turnovers and generating 12 fastbreak points, managed only 39% shooting and a 101.8 offensive rating.

The Panthers’ pressure defense, which produced 10 steals, kept them within striking distance for much of the night. They even led briefly early in the second half after a Zion Fruster layup made it 39-37. However, the Skyhawks responded with a decisive 13-2 run over the next four minutes, a stretch that ultimately decided the contest. The run was fueled by the inside-outside combination of Damien King and Andrija Bukumirović. King, a junior from Anderson, Indiana, scored five points during the spurt, while Bukumirović, a sophomore from Serbia, capped it with a three-pointer that put Tennessee-Martin ahead 50-41 with 11:06 remaining.

Eastern Illinois never recovered from that deficit. Every time the Panthers threatened, the Skyhawks answered with a key basket. When Terry McMorris of Eastern Illinois trimmed the lead to 59-57 with just over three minutes left, Bukumirović immediately responded with a driving layup. On the next possession, after a Panthers miss, Afan Trnka hit a crucial jumper to push the lead back to six points with 2:31 on the clock, effectively sealing the outcome.

Bukumirović led all scorers with 21 points, adding four rebounds and a block in 30 minutes. King provided 17 points, including three three-pointers, and was a steadying presence during the Skyhawks’ turbulent moments with the ball. Trnka, a guard from Bosnia & Herzegovina, contributed 10 points and four assists, while Filip Radaković of Serbia chipped in nine points and four assists.

Eastern Illinois was led by McMorris, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, who scored 15 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Meechie White added 14 points, and the Panthers dominated the assist category 10-2, reflecting their more fluid ball movement. However, their inability to convert Tennessee-Martin’s mistakes into enough points, coupled with a 5-for-19 performance from beyond the arc and a 17-for-29 showing at the free-throw line, proved too much to overcome.

The game’s statistical profile highlighted the clash. Tennessee-Martin won with shooting precision and paint production, scoring 28 points inside. Eastern Illinois won the hustle categories, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds and scoring 20 points off turnovers, but could not match the Skyhawks’ shot-making, particularly in the decisive final 15 minutes.

A crowd of 1,437 watched as the Skyhawks avenged no prior loss but continued their strong conference play, having now won five of their last six OVC games. Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, has lost three of its last four.

Tennessee-Martin travels to face Western Illinois on Saturday. Eastern Illinois will host Southeast Missouri State the same day.