MARTIN, Tenn. - More than 2,000 area students from the local primary, elementary, middle and high schools filed into the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center to cheer The University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball team onto a 79-67 victory over Harris Stowe State University Friday morning during the Second Annual Character Counts game.

The Skyhawks built a 39-24 lead at the half and never looked back despite the Hornets aggressive comeback attempt.

"It was great to get all the area kids in here this morning," said Jason James, UT Martin's first-year head coach. "I explained to our players how a lot of the kids look up to them as college basketball players as role models."

The Skyhawks jumped out to a 14-4 advantage in the opening five minutes of the game. "We were able to feed off all the energy in the arena early in the game," James said.

The basketball game culminated a week-long of Character Counts programming by the Skyhawk basketball team in Weakley and Obion County schools in Tennessee and Fulton (Ky.).

UT Martin basketball players and the coaching staff have been visiting area schools this week talking about winning character traits - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship - and how much character counts.

"We tell our players that character counts as much as talent, and to be successful on the court and the classroom you must have good character traits," James said.

Character Counts was sponsored by MTD and UT Martin Athletics. UT Martin's student-athletes, coaches and administrators worked jointly to pull off the annual event.


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