EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A critical late-season Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball showdown is set for Friday, March 6, 2026, as the Tennessee State Tigers host the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at the Ford Center.

The matchup features two of the league’s top teams, with Tennessee State (21-9) holding a slim one-game edge over Tennessee-Martin (22-10) in the overall win column. The Tigers also carry significant momentum from the teams’ most recent meeting, a dominant 67-42 road victory on Feb. 28. In that game, Tennessee State held the Skyhawks to a season-low in points and shot just 27.6% from the field.

Tennessee State will lean again on standout guard Aaron Nkrumah, who scored 20 points in the late-February rout of UT Martin. Nkrumah has been on a tear, averaging 17.9 points over his last seven contests, including a 26-point, 11-rebound performance against SIU Edwardsville on Feb. 21. The Tigers have won six of their last seven games.

Tennessee-Martin, coming off a 66-63 home win over Eastern Illinois on Thursday, seeks to reverse its recent offensive struggles against the Tigers’ defense. Skyhawks guard Filip Radaković, who scored 17 points in the Eastern Illinois victory, was held to just four points on 2-of-10 shooting in the loss to Tennessee State a week ago. His performance will be a key barometer for his team’s chances.

The Tigers won the first meeting this season 78-71 on Dec. 18, 2025, in Nashville. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Tennessee State is projected with a 67% probability to complete the season sweep.

With conference tournament seeding on the line, the Tigers aim to defend their home court in Evansville and solidify their standing, while the Skyhawks look for a statement road win to avenge their most lopsided loss of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.