UT Martin Dominates Western Illinois in NCAAB Clash
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · Western Hall
UT Martin Skyhawks 84, Western Illinois Leathernecks 44, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won UT Martin Skyhawks vs Western Illinois Leathernecks?
UT Martin Skyhawks beat Western Illinois Leathernecks 84-44 at Western Hall on January 31, 2026.
Who was favored in UT Martin Skyhawks vs Western Illinois Leathernecks?
UT Martin Skyhawks were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -575 (about 85% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive victory, the UT Martin Skyhawks overwhelmed the Western Illinois Leathernecks with a final score of 84-44 at Western Hall. This matchup highlighted the stark contrast in the teams' recent performances, with UT Martin continuing its strong season while Western Illinois struggled to find its footing.
UT Martin, boasting a record of 17-5, entered the game with a solid recent form, winning eight of its last ten games. The Skyhawks have averaged 69.8 points while allowing only 63.3 during this stretch. In their most recent game prior to facing Western Illinois, they secured a 76-68 victory against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, showcasing their offensive capabilities and defensive resilience. Conversely, the Leathernecks have faced a dismal stretch, losing their last ten games, with a record of 0-10 in that span. They have averaged just 63.1 points per game while conceding 74.3, underscoring their struggles on both ends of the court.
At home, Western Illinois has not fared well this season, holding a home record of 0-4. Their overall performance has been lackluster, with their last five games yielding an average of 67.6 points scored and 77.6 points allowed. In contrast, UT Martin has thrived on the road, with a 4-2 record away from home, indicating their ability to perform under pressure.
The teams had previously met earlier in the season, on January 1, 2026, where UT Martin also emerged victorious with a score of 67-60. This latest encounter extended the Skyhawks' winning streak against the Leathernecks to three games, further establishing their dominance in this matchup.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the performance disparity suggests that UT Martin may have been at full strength, while Western Illinois has been unable to find a consistent lineup that can compete effectively.
The betting market reflected the expectations surrounding this game, with DraftKings setting the spread at 10.5 points in favor of UT Martin. The total for the game was set at 137.5, indicating a belief in a relatively low-scoring affair, which proved to be inaccurate given the final score.
Conditions in Western Hall were typical for a basketball game, with no unusual factors reported that would have influenced the outcome. Fans in attendance witnessed a one-sided affair, as UT Martin's offensive execution and defensive tenacity overwhelmed the Leathernecks from the start.
Viewers should have noted the standout performances from UT Martin's players, particularly in the second half, where they showcased their depth and scoring ability. Key moments included dunks by Pedro Santos and Lamine Niang, as well as a long three-pointer from Tyran Cook, which highlighted the Skyhawks' offensive prowess. The Leathernecks struggled to respond, unable to mount any significant comeback as they fell further behind.
In summary, the game served as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Western Illinois this season, while UT Martin continued to solidify its position as a formidable contender in the NCAAB landscape.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UTM -10.5 | 137.5 o -115 / u -105 | UT Martin Skyhawks -575 · Western Illinois Leathernecks +425 |
Leaders
- PointsLucas Lorenzen8Western Illinois Leathernecks
- AssistsIsaiah Griffin3Western Illinois Leathernecks
- ReboundsDanny Stephens5Western Illinois Leathernecks
- PointsFilip Petkovski17UT Martin Skyhawks
- AssistsMatas Deniusas5UT Martin Skyhawks
- ReboundsFilip Petkovski8UT Martin Skyhawks
Recent form
Western Illinois Leathernecks
Last 10: 0-10Streak L1063.1 scored · 74.3 allowed per game0-4 at home
- L74-78vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 30
- L64-96at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 24
- L66-71at Morehead State EaglesJan 23
- L79-86at Little Rock TrojansJan 17
- L55-57at Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 14
- L54-59vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 10
- L68-90vs Tennessee State TigersJan 9
- L50-73at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 3
- L60-67at UT Martin SkyhawksJan 1
- L61-66vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsDec 22
UT Martin Skyhawks
Last 10: 8-2Streak W169.8 scored · 63.3 allowed per game4-2 away
- W76-68at Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 30
- L50-66at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 21
- W69-55vs Lindenwood LionsJan 17
- W65-59vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsJan 16
- W73-56at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 11
- W76-68at Morehead State EaglesJan 9
- W65-61vs Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 3
- W67-60vs Western Illinois LeathernecksJan 1
- W86-62at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesDec 20
- L71-78at Tennessee State TigersDec 19
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 | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-60 | 13-49 |
| Field goal % | 52 | 27 |
| Three-pointers | 9-27 | 6-24 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 25 |
| Free throws | 13-17 | 12-18 |
| Free throw % | 76 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 41 | 20 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 14 |
| Assists | 22 | 7 |
| Steals | 13 | 4 |
| Blocks | 6 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 26 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 14 |
| Fouls | 15 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 44 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 98 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half38-19Lucas Lorenzen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half38-20Lucas Lorenzen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-20Matas Deniusas makes 26-foot three point jumper (Andrija Bukumirović assists)
- 2nd Half41-23Francis Okwuosah makes 26-foot three point jumper (Makai Kvamme assists)
- 2nd Half43-23Andrija Bukumirović makes layup (Matas Deniusas assists)
- 2nd Half43-25Goanar Biliew makes layup (Francis Okwuosah assists)
- 2nd Half46-25Andrija Bukumirović makes 25-foot three point jumper (Damien King assists)
- 2nd Half49-25Filip Petkovski makes 33-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half49-28Lucas Lorenzen makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half51-28Damien King makes layup
- 2nd Half51-30Danny Stephens makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-30Andrija Bukumirović makes layup (Vladimir Khryapa assists)
- 2nd Half53-31Isaiah Griffin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-32Isaiah Griffin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-32Filip Petkovski makes 28-foot three point jumper (Vladimir Khryapa assists)
- 2nd Half58-32Vladimir Khryapa makes 1-foot dunk (Andrija Bukumirović assists)
- 2nd Half58-33Danny Stephens makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-33AJ Hopkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-33AJ Hopkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-33Pedro Santos makes layup (Matas Deniusas assists)
- 2nd Half64-33Vladimir Khryapa makes 1-foot dunk (Pedro Santos assists)
- 2nd Half66-33Vladimir Khryapa makes layup (Matas Deniusas assists)
- 2nd Half66-34Goanar Biliew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-34Filip Petkovski makes 27-foot three point jumper (Pedro Santos assists)
- 2nd Half71-34AJ Hopkins makes layup (Pedro Santos assists)
- 2nd Half74-34AJ Hopkins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Filip Petkovski assists)
- 2nd Half74-35Makai Kvamme makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-35Filip Radaković makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-35AJ Hopkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-35AJ Hopkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-35Pedro Santos makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-37Nick Hittle makes layup
- 2nd Half78-38Nick Hittle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-39Nick Hittle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-39Pedro Santos makes 1-foot dunk (Damien King assists)
- 2nd Half82-39Lamine Niang makes 2-foot dunk (Damien King assists)
- 2nd Half82-40Goanar Biliew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-40Pedro Santos makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half84-41Nick Hittle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-44Tyran Cook makes 28-foot three point jumper (Danny Stephens assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Western Illinois Leathernecks, below favours UT Martin Skyhawks.
Venue
- Western HallMacomb, IL
- Attendance568
- OfficialsJake Keller, Sean West, Nate Gamet
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