| Skyhawks set for OVC battle on ESNPU | | | The UT Martin Skyhawks will return to the friendly confines of the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center Saturday to host Ohio Valley Conference foe Morehead State in front of a national television audience on ESPNU. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. All general admission tickets for the game are $1. All area students will be admitted to the game free of charge.
The Skyhawks have won two of their last three conference games and will battle Morehead State with the tandem of Lester Hudson and Marquis Weddle.
Hudson, a 6-3, 190-pound guard from Memphis, was named the OVC’s Newcomer of the Week. Weddle, a 6-1, 185-pound guard from Union City was named the league’s Freshman of the Week.
Hudson, the nation’s No. 2 leading scorer, picked up Newcomer of the Week honors for the second straight week after another all-around effort. He averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.0 steals per week while hitting 42.9 percent (15-of-35) from the field and 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from 3-point range.
Hudson scored 31 points in the Skyhawks’ 90-85 overtime loss to Austin Peay but was limited to just 13 in a victory over Samford. Despite scoring just 13, Hudson filled up the rest of the stat sheet, adding seven steals, six assists and five rebounds in the 14-point home victory.
Weddle averaged 22.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game last week as UT Martin split a pair of games. Weddle hit 53.6 percent (15-of-28) of his shots overall and was 8-of-20 (40 percent) from the 3-point line and 6-of-7 (85.7 percent) from the free-throw stripe. Weddle came off the bench to scored 27 points in the Skyhawks’ 90-85 overtime loss against defending OVC Champions Austin Peay.
He started in a home win over Samford and scored 17 points in the contest. This week’s honor marks the fourth time this season that Weddle has been named Freshman of the Week (Nov. 19, Nov. 26, Dec. 3).
Rounding out the Skyhawks lineup will be big men Gerald Robinson, Djero Riedewald and Olajide Hay. The three forwards are among the top rebounders in the OVC.
The Skyhawk women will also host Morehead State Saturday. Tipoff for the women’s game is set for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the men’s game.
In addition to the exciting OVC basketball doubleheader, fans can enjoy a performance from the award-winning Martin Middle School cheerleaders, inflatables, courtside dinning, numerous games throughout both games for fans. A plethora of prizes, including a UT Martin bicycle, Christie’s Photography First Focus packages and gift cards, will be given away. | | | | |
