MARTIN, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging Tennessee-Martin team will look to continue its dominant run through the Ohio Valley Conference when it hosts struggling Southern Indiana on Thursday night at Skyhawk Arena. The Skyhawks (17-5, 8-1 OVC) enter the matchup as one of the conference’s hottest teams, having won seven of their last eight games. Their most recent outing was a commanding 84-44 road victory over Western Illinois on Jan. 31, a performance that showcased their balance. Forward Matas Deniusas has been a key contributor, averaging 10.3 points over his last six games, including a 13-point, 7-rebound, 4-assist effort in the win over Western Illinois. They will face a Southern Indiana squad mired in a difficult season. The Screaming Eagles (5-16, 2-8) have lost four of their last five, including a 58-46 home loss to SIU Edwardsville on Saturday. In that game, guard Devin Curtis led the team with 11 points. Curtis has shown flashes, scoring in double figures in two of his last five appearances, but consistency has been elusive for the Eagles. Tennessee-Martin won the first meeting this season handily, 73-56, in Evansville on Jan. 10. Deniusas had 5 points in that contest for the Skyhawks, who have built their record on strong defense and efficient scoring. The matchup pits the conference’s upper echelon against its cellar. Southern Indiana, which has not won consecutive games all season, will need a significant turnaround to challenge the Skyhawks on their home floor. Tennessee-Martin, meanwhile, aims to keep pace atop the OVC standings and avenge one of its few league losses, a 66-50 setback at Southeast Missouri State on Jan. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST Thursday. Southern Indiana travels to Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, while Tennessee-Martin prepares to host Morehead State this weekend.