BOX SCORE   |  PDF Box

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois (5-9, 2-2 OVC) had a seven minute scoreless streak late in the second half that Tennessee Tech (8-5, 2-1 OVC) was able to take advantage of for a 67-60 win on Monday night.

After the two teams exchanged the lead in the first four minutes, EIU took the lead on a #T.J. Marion# bank shot with 15:47 to play in the first half. The Panthers would extend the lead to as high as eight points at 28-20 as Romain Martin and Jay Smith connected on 3-pointers the last at 5:19.

Tennessee Tech responded with back-to-back three point plays by Alex Davis and Will Barnes to cut the lead to two points. Smith added a runner for EIU on the next possession and the Panthers would hold a 32-31 lead at the break.

Martin had 13 first half points to lead EIU including three 3-pointers as he passed Gerald Jones for sixth place on the EIU career 3-pointers made list.

EIU pushed the second half lead out to 40-35 on a Tyler Laser jumper before Tennessee Tech used a 9-0 run that was capped by an Alex Davis 3-pointer at 12:25. It was the first Golden Eagles since early in the first half.

TTU would hold EIU without a field goal for nearly seven minutes late in the second half as they extended the lead to 64-48 on a David Lindsay put-back with 4:26 left in the game.

Ousmane Cisse was able to end the Golden Eagles run with a pair of baskets. EIU had several more offensive chances over the final 2:30 as TTU missed a couple of free throws on the front end of one-and-ones. The Panthers responded with baskets by Jeremy Granger and Marion to cut the margin to 64-58 with 59 seconds remaining.

Tennessee Tech would convert four throws in the final 44 seconds to hold on for the win.

Martin finished with 17 points and Marion added 13 for Eastern Illinois. TTU was led by Lindsay with 15 with Barnes and Alex Davis adding 13 each.

EIU will return to action on Saturday night at Southeast Missouri.