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CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois held Murray State well below its season field goal percentage average for the second time this season but the Panthers (10-9, 4-5 OVC) were also cold themselves at crucial times as Murray State improved to 17-3, 9-0 in the OVC with a 60-51 win over EIU on Thursday night.

MSU was limited to 42 percent shooting from the field while EIU shot just 38 percent. Sophomore Jeremy Granger was the lone offensive spark for the Panthers scoring 23.

EIU was plagued by 18 turnovers as Murray State had 12 steals leading to 21 points off turnovers. The Racers led 27-23 at the break and watched EIU climb into the lead on a Granger three point play as the Panthers went on top 32-31 with 16:16 remaining.

Danero Thomas answered for MSU with a three point play of his own that put the Racers back on top. EIU had several chances to regain the lead but would come up empty on three chances to regain the lead.

MSU slowly pulled away as the two teams traded free throws to produce offense before Donte Poole drained a 3-pointer followed by an Isaiah Canaan jumper that put the Racers up 46-37 with 11:20 left to play.

The Racers lead would grow to as many as 11 points on a Jeffery McClain tip in with 10:46 left with the Panthers only able to get within seven points on three occasions, two of them coming on Granger jumpers in the lane. Granger finished day hitting 8-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the stripe.

Both teams struggled with assists as MSU finished with eight while EIU was limited to only six. Ivan Aska and Tony Easley led the Racers with ten points each.

Ousmane Cisse pulled down ten rebounds as he became just the seventh EIU player to pull down 700 or more rebounds for a career.

EIU returns to action on Saturday at 6 p.m. when they host UT Martin in Lantz Arena.