MARTIN, Tenn. – Trae English scored a career-high 29 points and Christian Shumate recorded his third double-double on the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but UT Martin held off a McNeese rally to escape with an 86-83 win on Monday night.
 
Roberts Berze's three-point attempt at the buzzer to tie the game fell of the mark as McNeese fell to 2-5 on the season while UTM improved to 4-4, including remaining perfect at home at 4-0.
 
The Cowboys were without senior three-point shooter Zach Scott who did not travel do to the flu, but English stepped up in that spot and sank 5 of 8 from long range and was 11 of 20 overall. The sophomore added five assists, two steals, and turned the ball over only twice.
 
His fifth trey of the game with 8.1 seconds to play pulled the Cowboys to within 1 point at 84-83. UTM's Parker Stewart, who led his team with 34 points, sank two free throws with 5.7 to play to give the Skyhawks a three-point lead.
 
But the thorn in the side for the Cowboys came at the free throw line where they made on 8 of 27 for just under 30 percent. However, they shot nearly 51 percent from the field (32 of 63) and were 11 of 26 for 42 percent from long range.
 
Stewart scored 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting that included 7 for 10 from three-point range. KJ Simon added 22 points as the duo combined to connect on 17 field goals with nine of those from long range.
 
The Skyhawks made 27 of 58 (47 percent) from the field, 13 of 29 (45 percent) from three-point range, and 19 of 29 (66 percent) at the free throw line. McNeese held a 43-36 advantage in rebounds.
 
The Cowboys battled back from a 9-point deficit (79-70) with 2:54 to play in the game when English hit a 3 and Shumate slammed one down on an offensive rebound to cut the margin to four at 79-75 with 2:03 remaining.
 
The two teams then traded baskets until Shumate hit 1 of 2 free throws with 1:18 to play to close the gap to 81-78. Stewart followed with a couple of free throws to give the Skyhawks back a five-point lead then Berze hit a couple for McNeese to make it 83-80 with 1:04 remaining. Berze then missed a tying 3 with 23 seconds to play and Simon hit 1 of 2 free throws for UTM to make it an 84-80 score with 18 seconds left before English's three cut the gap to 1.
 
McNeese built a 14-6 lead through the first 3:35 of the game after hitting six of its first seven shots. English scored 10 of those points behind a couple of three-pointers and ended the first half with 17 points.
 
UTM used the three-ball to stay close early, primarily behind the shot of Parker Stewart who drilled six 3s in the half.
 
The Cowboys led 18-12 following a Malachi Rhodes layup at the 14:51 mark when the Skyhawks put together a 22-2 run over the next eight minutes to build a 34-20 lead with 6:31 to play.
 
McNeese followed with six straight points and was able to outscore UTM 12-5 down the stretch to go in at the half down 39-32 with a Harwin Francois 3 capping the first half scoring.
 
The Cowboys will close out their Tennessee trip on Wednesday when it takes on the 13^th-ranked Tennessee Vols. Tip-off will be 6:15 Central Time and the game will broadcast on the SEC Network.