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MARTIN, Tenn. – Benzor Simmons hit a 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds left and Eastern Illinois missed two chances in the final seconds as UT Martin (7-14, 3-7 OVC) rallied to knock off EIU, 63-62, at the Elam Center. EIU fell to 8-11, 4-5 in the OVC. 

Eastern Illinois shot 56 percent in the first half as Shaun Pratl helped the Panthers open with an 11-2 run. Pratl finished the game shooting 7-of-10 from the floor leading EIU with 17 points. 

EIU led 33-30 at the half after UT Martin closed the gap to 31-30; Jeremy Granger hit a jumper in the lane with three seconds left. 

The Panthers led by double digits at 51-41 with 11:49 remaining as Curry McKinney sank a 3-pointer en route to his first career double-double as he finished with ten points and ten rebounds. 

UT Martin shot 52 percent in the second half and slowly chipped away at the ten-point deficit. A pair of Troy King jumpers, the second with 4:09 remaining gave the Skyhawks their first lead of the game at 57-56. 

Granger answered with a jumper on the next possession and EIU led 60-62 following Granger's lay-up with 41 seconds left. Simmons hit the game winner as he finished with a game-high 21 points while Mike Liabo added 15 off the bench. 

EIU had four players in double figures with Granger scoring 11 and James Hollowell 12. The Panthers will host Tennessee Tech on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.