The University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) basketball programs took center stage in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as both the men’s and women’s teams faced critical matchups with significant postseason implications.
Men’s Basketball: Skyhawks Fall to SEMO in Overtime Heartbreaker
In a high-stakes battle for the top of the OVC standings, the UT Martin men’s basketball team (20-8, 12-5 OVC) suffered a narrow 56-53 overtime loss to Southeast Missouri (SEMO) at home on Tuesday night. The defeat creates a deadlock at the top of the conference, as SEMO now ties the Skyhawks for first place in the league.
The Skyhawks entered the contest with momentum after reaching the 20-win plateau on February 14 with an 81-76 victory over SIU-Edwardsville. In that matchup, Andrija Bukumirovic led the charge with 19 points. However, the offensive rhythm struggled against SEMO’s defensive pressure in Tuesday’s defensive struggle. Despite the loss, UT Martin remains a frontrunner for the OVC regular-season title, a feat the program last achieved in 2024.
Looking ahead, the OVC announced that UT Martin’s regular-season finale against Tennessee State has been selected for a national broadcast on ESPNU, highlighting the Skyhawks’ status as one of the premier teams in the conference this season.
Women’s Basketball: Skyhawks Host Redhawks in Midweek Action
The UT Martin women’s team (13-12, 9-7 OVC) also returned to action on Tuesday, hosting Southeast Missouri at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks are looking to bounce back following a tough road stretch, which included a 62-52 loss to SIUE on February 14 and a narrow defeat to Lindenwood earlier in the week.
Redshirt junior guard Kenley McCarn continues to be a focal point for the Skyhawks’ offense. As the team enters the final stretch of the regular season, they are fighting to secure a favorable seed for the OVC Tournament. The program has a rich history of success, including seven conference championships and a notable 22-10 record during the 2019-20 campaign.
Program History and Statistical Milestones
The UT Martin basketball program has seen steady growth since joining the OVC. The men’s team, which began its Division I era in the 1992-93 season, has claimed four regular-season conference titles. The 2025-26 season marks one of the most successful periods in recent history, with the team consistently hovering at the top of the conference rankings.
Historically, the Skyhawks have established dominant records against several regional rivals, including a perfect 2-0 all-time record against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and a strong 6-1 conference record against Southern Indiana. The program’s best-ever win total came in the 2012-13 season when they recorded 21 victories, a mark the current 2025-26 squad is on the verge of surpassing.
Upcoming Schedule
Fans can expect high-intensity basketball as the regular season winds down:
- Men’s Basketball: Preparing for the regular-season finale against Tennessee State, which will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
- Women’s Basketball: Continuing OVC play as they jockey for position in the upcoming conference tournament.