MARTIN, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging Tennessee Tech team will look to spoil Tennessee-Martin’s strong home record when the Ohio Valley Conference rivals meet Thursday night at Skyhawk Arena. The Golden Eagles (13-16, 8-8 OVC) have won four of their last five games, including a 72-57 victory over Lindenwood on Saturday. They will face a stiff challenge against the Skyhawks (20-9, 11-5), who are 12-2 at home this season and sit near the top of the conference standings. Tennessee Tech’s recent success has been fueled by forward JaJuan Nicholls. Over his last eight games, the junior is averaging 14.9 points, including a 23-point performance against Eastern Illinois and a 20-point outing against SIU Edwardsville. In the win over Lindenwood, he added 16 points and eight rebounds. The Skyhawks, however, have dominated the recent series, winning the season’s first meeting 86-62 in Cookeville on Dec. 20. They are led by guard Andrija Bukumirović, who is coming off a 22-point effort in a narrow 67-65 road loss to Arkansas-Little Rock. Bukumirović has scored in double figures in eight of his last ten contests. Despite their overall record, the Golden Eagles have shown resilience on the road in conference play, securing key wins at Southern Indiana and Tennessee State in February. Containing Bukumirović and improving their offensive consistency will be critical against a UT Martin squad that ranks among the OVC’s best defensively. The Skyhawks have hit a recent skid, losing three of their last four, but their home-court advantage remains formidable. A win would solidify their positioning for a high seed in the upcoming OVC Tournament, while Tennessee Tech aims to continue its late-season push toward a .500 conference record. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST.