PULASKI, Tenn. – After beginning its current six-game winning streak with a win at Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University, Martin Methodist will look to sweep the regular-season series when the two teams meet again Thursday night.

Losing two of their last three games prior to the Jan. 19 meeting in Henderson, the RedHawks (14-9, 5-1 TranSouth) turned in one of their most dominant performances of the season in a 77-42 victory over the Lions (10-15, 1-4), a victory that helped kick start the RedHawks best stretch of play this season.

Sharp-shooting – especially from beyond the arc – was the name of the game for the RedHawks in the first meeting between the two sides. The RedHawks matched a season-high in field goals (30) and 3-pointers (13) in a lopsided victory over the Lions that saw the club shoot a blistering 50.8 percent.

Josh Watson (13.3 points per game), Jeremy Rodgers (11.8) and Justin Blake (10.3) all enter Thursday's game after strong performances in the past few weeks. Watson was especially effective in the first meeting between the two clubs, scoring a career-high 26 points on a 10-of-13 shooting effort, including a white-hot 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Watson was one of four RedHawks that finished in double-figures in the victory, joining Brandon Hunter (13), Justin Blake (11) and Antonio Coleman (10).

Defensively, the RedHawks enter Thursday's matchup as one of the best teams in the NAIA, ranking fifth in the nation in scoring defense (59.9 points). The RedHawks also rank sixth in the NAIA in field goal percentage defense (38.5).

The RedHawks also put the clamps down defensively in the first meeting between the two TranSouth rivals, limiting the Lions to a woeful 15-of-59 effort from the floor, including a 5-of-25 night from beyond the 3-point line.

Junior guard Reginald Gilmore (11.6 ppg), leads a Lions offense that averages 72.6 points per contest, including 70-plus point efforts in four of their last five games.

Hit with several key injuries, the Lions have struggled in 2013, losing nine of their last ten games. The TranSouth preseason conference favorites have performed well against tough competition as of late, however, taking both No. 14 Bethel (Tenn.) University and No. 2 Lee (Tenn.) University to overtime in heartbreaking losses.

The RedHawks lead the tightly-contested all-time series 22-19. With a win in Thursday's contest, the RedHawks could potentially secure the first regular-season sweep for either school in the series in the last five seasons. The RedHawks defeated the Lions in both meetings during the 2007-08 season.

Tipoff in Thursday's game is set for 8 p.m. in the Curry Christian Life Center. Live stats and live video of Thursday's game will be online at GoRedHawks.com.

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