| Robinson, Hudson provide 1-2 punch for Skyhawks in two OVC road wins | | | 
Gerald Robinson | | Double-doubles
help Skyhawks to season sweep of Jax State
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — UT Martin senior Gerald Robinson netted 25 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds, while junior Lester Hudson recorded his eighth double-double of the season to lead the visiting Skyhawks to an 81-70 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Jacksonville State Saturday at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Robinson’s 19 rebounds were equal to Jacksonville State’s total rebounds.
Hudson scored 20 points and tied his career-high with 12 rebounds. Freshman Marquis Weddle also scored 16 points in the win.
The Skyhawks are 4-1 on the season when three or more players score in double-figures. The lone loss was to SEC power Mississippi State.
The Skyhawks and the Gamecocks battle back and forth in the first half. The game was tied six times. Hudson tied the game at 39-all with a 3-pointer with 1:27 to play in the first half. The Skyhawks closed out the first half with an 8-0 run to claim a 44-39 advantage at the half.
Robinson scored 18 points in the first half and was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He had eight rebounds. Hudson knocked down 12 points in the first half and had seven rebounds.
“I thought Jacksonville State made some big shots in the first half, but tonight we were careless with the basketball,” said Bret Campbell, the Skyhawks’ head coach. “We made 20 turnovers and I thought we allowed them to get jump started. We were too casual with the basketball.
“The silver lining is when you turn it over 20 times and still win by 10 points on the road. That’s encouraging,” said Campbell.
The Skyhawks never trailed in the second and enjoyed two 15-point leads.
Jacksonville State cut the lead to 10 points, 69-59, with 6:02 remaining on the clock. The Skyhawks closed out the game by making six consecutive free throws in the final 1:02.
As a team, the Skyhawks shot 84 percent at the free-throw line, making 21-of-25 attempts. Robinson hit 9-of-10 from the stripe, while Hudson was 2-for-2. Hudson has now made 19 consecutive free throws. His streak started Jan. 12 in the second half of the game against Morehead State.
The Skyhawks shot 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from 3-point range as they knocked down 12of-25 attempts from behind the arc.
Jacksonville State was led by freshman Nick Murphy who scored 15 points and Will Ginn who scored 14 points, all in the first half.
With the victory the Skyhawks improve to 10-12 on the year and sport a 6-6 worksheet in the OVC. Jacksonville State falls to 4-16 overall and 2-10 in the OVC standings.
“Hopefully we can bottle some of this (winning on the road) and take it home,” Campbell said. “We have to protect our home court.”
The Skyhawks will host Eastern Kentucky Tuesday, Jan. 29 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The Skyhawks also host Tennessee Tech Thursday, Jan. 31. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Skyhawk men claim road win at Samford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — UT Martin’s Lester Hudson recorded his seventh double-double of the season to lead the Skyhawks to a road win over Samford Thursday night in the Pete Hanna Center.
Hudson scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds as the Skyhawks posted a 61-43 victory over the host Bulldogs.
With the victory the Skyhawks improve to 5-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference race and 9-12 overall. Samford falls to 5-6 in the league and 8-11 on the year.
“I was pleased with our defensive effort,” said Bret Campbell, the Skyhawks’ head coach. “We did a solid job guarding their back cuts and their shooters.”
Samford managed to hold on to a one-point lead, 10-9, with 10:47 to play in the first half. UT Martin freshman Marquis Weddle hit a 3-pointer with 10:16 to play and the Skyhawks never looked back.
Sophomore Joe Bailey knocked down two 3-pointers in the first half and UTM enjoyed a 29-21 lead at the break. Hudson was held to four points in the half.
Samford opened the second half with a 7-3 run to cut the Skyhawks’ lead to six points, 34-28, with Travis Peterson’s layup at the 14:17 mark. The Skyhawks’ defense and the solid offense of Hudson and senior Gerald Robinson didn’t back down in the second half. Hudson scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half and grabbed five rebounds to finish with the double-double. Robinson finished the game with 15 points.
Samford’s effort was led by Joe Ross Merritt, who scored 10 points and had five rebounds.
The win over Samford marks the third time this season the Skyhawks have won on the road. UTM also has road wins over Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State.
“This is certainly a step in the right direction,” Campbell said. “We have found ways to win on the road and thank goodness because we have given away some at home.” | | | | |
