MARTIN, Tenn. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance by Tennessee-Martin, fueled by a stifling defense and a balanced offensive attack, overwhelmed Tennessee Tech for a 64-49 victory in Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball on Thursday night at Skyhawk Arena.

The game, witnessed by 1,297 fans, was a tale of two halves. The visiting Golden Eagles (13-17, 8-9 OVC) managed to stay within a single point at halftime, trailing just 23-22 after a grinding opening period where both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. The second half, however, belonged entirely to the Skyhawks (21-9, 12-5).

Tennessee-Martin emerged from the break with decisive energy, outscoring Tennessee Tech 41-27 over the final 20 minutes. The Skyhawks’ defense tightened considerably, forcing the Golden Eagles into difficult shots and disrupting their offensive flow. This defensive pressure created transition opportunities and allowed the home team to steadily pull away, turning a narrow contest into a comfortable double-digit victory.

The most important part of the game was Tennessee-Martin’s immediate and sustained surge to open the second half, which effectively decided the contest. After a first half where neither team led by more than six points, the Skyhawks opened the final period on a 14-4 run over the first six minutes. This burst, which featured inside scores from Lamine Niang and Filip Radaković and capped by a three-pointer from Vladimir Khryapa, stretched a one-point lead to 37-26. Tennessee Tech never recovered from this decisive blow, as the Skyhawks maintained defensive intensity and never allowed the Golden Eagles to cut the deficit below nine points for the remainder of the game.

Senegalese big man Lamine Niang led the Skyhawks with 12 points, adding two blocks in just 20 minutes of action, providing a crucial interior presence. The Skyhawks showcased their international roster depth, with Serbian forward Filip Radaković contributing 10 points, Russian guard Vladimir Khryapa adding nine points and two assists, and Slovenian guard Filip Petkovski chipping in seven points. The win solidified Tennessee-Martin’s position near the top of the OVC standings.

For Tennessee Tech, the offensive struggles were widespread. Mekhi Cameron and Dani Pounds each scored 12 points, with Pounds adding a block. Point guard Ty Owens distributed five assists but was held to just four points on the night. The Golden Eagles, who entered the game having won three of their last four, could not replicate the offensive efficiency from those victories and shot poorly from the field throughout the evening.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Tennessee-Martin over Tennessee Tech, having previously defeated the Golden Eagles 86-62 in Cookeville on Dec. 20. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the Skyhawks were projected with a 79.5% probability to win. The combined point total of 113 fell well under the over/under line of 135.5.

Tennessee Tech looks to regroup quickly, traveling to face Southeast Missouri State on Saturday. Tennessee-Martin remains at home to host Tennessee State, also on Saturday, as both teams make their final preparations for the upcoming OVC tournament.