UI Martin Knocks Off EIU, SIUE Claims Victory

MARTIN, Tenn. – In a battle to remain in the hunt for the Ohio Valley Conference West Division title both teams had a chance to win in the final 20 seconds but UT Martin needed overtime to hold knock off Eastern Illinois, 87-84.

EIU fell to 11-16 overall, 7-7 in the OVC.  The Panthers return to action on Saturday afternoon at Southeast Missouri.  UT Martin improved to 16-12 overall, 8-5 in the OVC.

Demetrius McReynolds gave EIU an early lead in overtime on a 3-pointer on the Panthers first possession.  McReynolds finished with 19 points.  McReynolds had a chance to give EIU the win in regulation as he caught a full court baseball pass from Joe Kuligoski with 1.2 seconds left, but his shot fell short off the rim.

Myles Taylor knocked down four free throws sandwiched around a jumper by Jalen Variste that gave UTM a two possession lead in overtime.  Taylor was one of two Skyhawks players with a double-double finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds.  Taylor was 13-of-14 from the foul line.

\EIU built a 39-30 lead in the first half as the Panthers shot 50 percent from the field and beyond the arc in the opening half.  McReynolds hit a jumper at the foul line as time expired.  EIU closed the half with a 16-6 run with Trae Anderson giving the Panthers the lead with 4:30 to go on a lay-up.
EIU built the lead to 11 points in the second half and held off three runs by UTM that cut the lead to one point three times, the last with 4:16 to play in regulation as Taylor converted at the foul line.

Twymond Howard gave the Skyhawks their first lead of the second half converting a three point play with 3:35 to play.  Howard had 29 points and 12 rebounds.
EIU had finished the game 15-of-29 from 3-point range which ties for the second most made 3-pointers in school history.  Cornell Johnston had a double-double with 12 points, 10 assists.  Anderson had 19 points and Teson finished with 16.

SIUE 72, Southeast Missouri 69

SIUE men's basketball picked up its second consecutive road win Thursday, edging Southeast Missouri 72-69 at the Show Me Center.

The Cougars improved to 6-20 overall and 3-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast dropped to 5-22 overall and 2-12 in OVC play.

The Cougars broke out to a 7-2 lead to start the game and led 9-8 after a Jalen Henry jumper with 14:12 to play before halftime. Southeast Missouri got a dunk from Antonius Cleveland at the 12:34 mark which sparked a 16-2 run, giving the Redhawks their largest lead of the game at 24-11.

It was 33-20 Southeast when, for the second consecutive game, SIUE used a late first-half run to take control of the game. The Cougars ripped off a 16-0 run to lead 36-33 after a layup by Josh White with 49 seconds to play in the half. Jamaal Calvin knocked down a pair of free throws for SEMO with 26 seconds to go in the period, and the Cougars took a 36-35 lead into the break.

"Think about the way (Southeast Missouri) made a run at us in the first half," SIUE Head Coach Jon Harris said. "A month ago we probably would have folded. The guys found a way to respond. They rallied around each other and went into the half up one. And then we closed out the game which is tremendous."

Like their previous game at Eastern Illinois, SIUE never trailed in the second half. The Cougars built their lead to as many as nine Thursday when Burak Eslik completed a three-point play with 11:47 left in the game.