Tennessee State Tops UT Martin in Close Contest
Thursday, December 18, 2025, 8:30 PM ET · Gentry Center
Tennessee State Tigers 78, UT Martin Skyhawks 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won UT Martin Skyhawks vs Tennessee State Tigers?
Tennessee State Tigers beat UT Martin Skyhawks 78-71 at Gentry Center on December 18, 2025.
Who was favored in UT Martin Skyhawks vs Tennessee State Tigers?
Tennessee State Tigers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Tennessee State Tigers secured a 78-71 victory over the UT Martin Skyhawks at the Gentry Center. This win marks Tennessee State's continued success against UT Martin, extending their head-to-head record to 2-0 for the season, having previously defeated them 86-75 and 81-80 earlier in the year.
Tennessee State entered the game with a home record of 7-4, while UT Martin boasted an away record of 8-4. The Tigers had shown solid form recently, going 6-4 in their last ten games, with an average of 79.5 points scored and 75.1 points allowed. Their recent performance included a win against the UNLV Rebels on December 14, with a score of 63-60, and a notable victory against the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs, where they scored 98 points.
UT Martin, on the other hand, had a record of 8-4 and was also in decent form, having won 7 of their last 10 games. They averaged 74.9 points scored and 63.9 points allowed during this stretch. Their most recent game was a dominant 96-52 win over the Champion Christian Tigers on December 14, showcasing their offensive capabilities.
The matchup was particularly intriguing due to the contrasting styles of play. Tennessee State's ability to score heavily, particularly at home, was countered by UT Martin's strong defensive record, allowing only 63.9 points on average in their last ten games. The betting market reflected this competitive nature, with DraftKings setting the spread at Tennessee State -2.5, indicating a tight contest was expected. The total was set at 141.5, suggesting that both teams could contribute significantly to the scoring.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing for either team, which meant both squads were likely at full strength, contributing to the intensity of the game.
The game itself was marked by a series of critical scoring plays in the second half. With the score tight, Filip Radaković made a free throw to bring the Skyhawks within one point at 69-70. However, Dante Harris quickly responded with a driving layup, extending the Tigers' lead. Jalen Pitre added to the scoreboard with two free throws, pushing the lead to 74-69. Despite a late attempt from Andrija Bukumirović to close the gap for UT Martin, the Tigers held on to their lead, ultimately sealing the game with a dunk from Aaron Nkrumah.
The conditions at the Gentry Center were conducive to a high-energy game, with the home crowd supporting the Tigers throughout. This atmosphere likely played a role in Tennessee State's performance, as they improved their home record to 8-4 with this victory.
Overall, viewers witnessed a thrilling game that showcased the strengths of both teams, with Tennessee State emerging victorious in a tightly contested battle.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | TNST -2.5 | 141.5 o -105 / u -115 | UT Martin Skyhawks +124 · Tennessee State Tigers -148 |
Leaders
- PointsAaron Nkrumah23Tennessee State Tigers
- AssistsDante Harris3Tennessee State Tigers
- ReboundsJalen Pitre6Tennessee State Tigers
- PointsMatas Deniusas17UT Martin Skyhawks
- AssistsMatas Deniusas3UT Martin Skyhawks
- ReboundsMatas Deniusas9UT Martin Skyhawks
Recent form
Tennessee State Tigers
Last 10: 6-4Streak W179.5 scored · 75.1 allowed per game3-0 at home
- W63-60at UNLV RebelsDec 14
- L53-80at Alabama A&M BulldogsDec 4
- W70-64at Chattanooga MocsNov 30
- W98-77vs Tennessee Wesleyan BulldogsNov 29
- W75-73at UNC Asheville BulldogsNov 25
- L60-89at Tennessee VolunteersNov 21
- L82-95at Western Kentucky HilltoppersNov 16
- W114-76vs Oakwood AmbassadorsNov 12
- L79-87at Belmont BruinsNov 9
- W101-50vs Fisk BulldogsNov 4
UT Martin Skyhawks
Last 10: 7-3Streak W174.9 scored · 63.9 allowed per game2-3 away
- W96-52vs Champion Christian TigersDec 14
- L54-83at Southern Illinois SalukisDec 11
- W74-64vs Alabama State HornetsDec 7
- W73-56vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersDec 2
- W75-50vs Brescia BearcatsNov 26
- L60-70at Southern Miss Golden EaglesNov 23
- W69-68at Prairie View A&M PanthersNov 22
- L73-87at Florida State SeminolesNov 19
- W78-67at Bradley BravesNov 13
- W97-42vs Kentucky Christian KnightsNov 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 23-10 | - | 15-5 |
| Morehead State | 20-13 | - | 15-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 20-13 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UT Martin | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 19-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Lindenwood | 18-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Little Rock | 12-20 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Tennessee Tech | 13-18 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Eastern Illinois | 13-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Southern Indiana | 7-23 | 11 | 4-16 |
| Western Illinois | 5-26 | 14 | 1-19 |
Box score
| Stat | UT Martin Skyhawks | Tennessee State Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-55 | 30-60 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 4-19 | 4-10 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 40 |
| Free throws | 21-29 | 14-18 |
| Free throw % | 72 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 24 |
| Assists | 8 | 11 |
| Steals | 7 | 7 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 17 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 15 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 38 |
| Fouls | 16 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 61 | 28 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-42Aaron Nkrumah makes 2-foot dunk (Travis Harper II assists)
- 2nd Half43-42Matas Deniusas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-42Matas Deniusas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-44Jalen Pitre makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half44-45Jalen Pitre makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half44-47Jalen Pitre makes layup (Dante Harris assists)
- 2nd Half46-47Matas Deniusas makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half46-49Dante Harris makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half48-49Filip Radaković makes layup
- 2nd Half51-49Filip Petkovski makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half53-49Andrija Bukumirović makes layup (Pedro Santos assists)
- 2nd Half53-51Khalil London makes 19-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half53-53Aaron Nkrumah makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-53Afan Trnka makes 9-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half56-53Vladimir Khryapa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-53Andrija Bukumirović makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half58-56Travis Harper II makes 24-foot three pointer (Carlous Williams assists)
- 2nd Half58-59Travis Harper II makes 24-foot three point jumper (Carlous Williams assists)
- 2nd Half58-60Khalil London makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-60Matas Deniusas makes layup
- 2nd Half60-62Aaron Nkrumah makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Khalil London assists)
- 2nd Half61-62Filip Radaković makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-62Filip Radaković makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-62Matas Deniusas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-62Matas Deniusas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-64Dante Harris makes 17-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half66-64Pedro Santos makes 13-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half68-64Pedro Santos makes 14-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half68-65Khalil London makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-66Khalil London makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-68Aaron Nkrumah makes driving layup
- 2nd Half68-70Dante Harris makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half69-70Filip Radaković makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-72Dante Harris makes driving layup
- 2nd Half69-73Jalen Pitre makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-74Jalen Pitre makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-75Dante Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-76Dante Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-78Aaron Nkrumah makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half71-78Andrija Bukumirović makes driving layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Tennessee State Tigers, below favours UT Martin Skyhawks.
Venue
- Gentry CenterNashville, TN
- Attendance307
- OfficialsJames Hicks, Bryan Washer, Justin Dorris
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond