GAME NOTES: The Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks will continue their season-long six- game road trip on Friday night when they venture to Pinnacle Bank Arena for a non-conference clash with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Since losing its opener at Marquette on Nov. 14 (79-63), UTM has ripped off three straight victories. The Skyhawks began their road swing on Tuesday at Bethune-Cookman and came away with an easy 74-56 triumph to improve to 3-1 on the campaign.

Nebraska started the season among the likes of the nationally ranked at No. 21, but after a 2-0 start it was promptly bounced from the polls following a 66-62 overtime loss at Rhode Island on Nov. 22. The Cornhuskers got back in the win column on Tuesday by defeating intrastate rival Nebraska Omaha at home, 80-67.

This marks the first-ever meeting between the programs.

The Skyhawks set the tone late in the first half of their most recent game, as they went into intermission on a 13-1 run to take a double-digit lead, and their advantage swelled to as many as 26 down the stretch. Their field goal percentage on the night was modest (.423) but they were outstanding from the foul line (23-of-26) and played great defense by holding Bethune-Cookman to under 35 percent from the field. Myles Taylor drained all eight of his tries from the stripe on his way to 16 points while also ripping down nine rebounds. Marshun Newell was hot from 3-point range (4-of-6) on his way to 15 points and Twymond Howard added 13 points.

UTM has gotten off the a great start on both ends of the court this season, shooting 50 percent from the field for 81.8 ppg while allowing only 59.2 ppg on 39.7 percent shooting. Howard leads the way with 14.8 ppg, Taylor (12.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg) is making greater 76 percent of his field goal tries, and Newell (12.3 ppg) and Alex Anderson (10.3 ppg) round out the double-digit scorers.

The Cornhuskers had little trouble dismissing Omaha their last time out. Despite committing an unseemly 20 turnovers and shooting a lackluster 58.1 percent from the free-throw line, they made up for it with an outstanding field goal percentage (.528) and by dominating the rebounding battle (42-28). Shavon Shields was the catalyst with a career-high 35 points, doing so on a lights-out 12-of-16 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Terran Petteway was also excellent with 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Tai Webster came off the bench to score 10.

On the season, Nebraska shoots 47.4 percent from the field for 76.0 ppg, which is 13.5 ppg more than it allows on the other end. Shields and Petteway have asserted themselves as one of the best one-two punches in the nation. After his monster showing against Omaha, Shields sits with 23.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg on 68.2 percent from the field, while Petteway is right on his heels with 20.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Webster (8.3 ppg) is a solid third option.

UTM is off to a fast start and appears to be in for a much improved season after going just 8-23 in 2013-14, but it'll have its hands full on the road against the potent Cornhuskers. Expect Shields and Petteway to lead the home team to a convincing victory.