PULASKI, Tenn. – The Martin Methodist Men's Basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak Thursday night in a 76-68 victory versus Blue Mountain (Miss.) in the Curry Christian Life Center.
In a game that featured four ties and seven lead changes, the RedHawks (9-13, 6-10 SSAC) led by as many as 10 points in the first half, before taking a 42-33 lead into the locker room.
The second half saw the Toppers (10-12, 4-12 SSAC) whittle the lead down to just one with 7:53 left in the contest.
But a 7-0 scoring spurt over the next two minutes allowed the RedHawks to push the lead back to eight and eventually grind out the victory.
Junior forward Isaiah Blacksmith led the charge (on his birthday, no less) with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The double-double was just the seventh by a RedHawk this season and the first of Blacksmith's RedHawk career. Blacksmith was 6-of-7 from the floor and added three blocks on the defensive end of the court.
Senior guard Jordan Olison led the RedHawks in scoring with 19 points, while senior guard Adrian Smith added 18. Javonte Cooper, who had missed the last seven games with an injury, scored 11 points in his return to the lineup.
After they were outrebounded by a 44-38 margin in the first meeting versus the Toppers on Dec. 17, the RedHawks enjoyed a 46-40 margin on the glass in Thursday's victory.
The margin of victory could have been wider, but the RedHawks connected on just 20-of-31 shots from the free throw line.
Da'Juonta Ross led the Toppers with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but finished 4-of-11 from the floor. As a team, the Toppers shot just 34.3 percent from the field.
The victory pushed the RedHawks to 8-2 at home this season.
The win potentially gives the RedHawks a bit of momentum heading into Saturday's Homecoming matchup versus Bethel (Tenn.). The No. 20 nationally-ranked Wildcats (19-5, 13-3 SSAC) suffered an 89-84 overtime defeat at Dalton State (Ga.) in their Thursday night matchup.
And while the RedHawks own a 19-8 advantage in the series dating back to 2007, the Wildcats have won the last three matchups, including an 82-78 victory earlier this season in McKenzie, Tennessee.
Tipoff in Saturday's Homecoming contest is set for 4 p.m. in the CLC.
