EIU Men Down Tennessee Tech, Women Fall

EIU improved to 4-5 overall, 1-1 in the OVC.  TTU fell to 1-10 overall, 1-3 in the OVC.
After a seesaw battle for most of the first half, EIU closed the half on an 8-3 run as the Panthers led 45-38 at the half.  Kashawn Charles knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during the run as he finished 6-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-4 from 3-point range scoring 16 points.

The Panthers then went on a 12-2 run to open the second half with baskets by Josiah Wallace and George Dixon capping the run as the Panthers led 57-42 with 16:56 remaining.  Wallace finished with 19 points in his return to the EIU line-up after missing Wednesday’s game at Eastern Kentucky due to COVID-19 protocols.

EIU would keep the lead at 15 for the next two and a half minutes with Wallace answering baskets by Tennessee Tech on two occasions. 

The Golden Eagles chipped away at the lead closing the Panthers lead to 63-58 with 12:20 to play following a 10-0 run.  Keishawn Davidson and Shandon Goldman both drained 3-pointers during the run for TTU.  Davidson (12 pts) and Goldman (13 pts) were two of the four TTU players to finish in double figures.

A 3-pointer by Jr. Clay would make it a one possession game with 10:08 to play at 68-65 before Wallace answered with a 3-pointer for EIU.

Damaria Franklin brought Tennessee Tech within two points with a lay-up with 7:53 to play making it, 73-71.  Marvin Johnson’s dunk off a TTU turnover with 6:37 to play put the Panthers back up four and Tennessee Tech would never get within one possession the remainder of the game.  Johnson posted his second double-double of the season with 19 points and ten assists.

Franklin finished with 25 points to lead all scorers while Clay added 19 for TTU.

The Panthers played without senior guard Mack Smith who was out with an injury suffered late in the EKU game.  On Wednesday, Smith set the NCAA record for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer at 89 straight.

Tennessee Tech 72, EIU Women 67

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois women's basketball fell to the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech, 72-67. The Panthers had the lead in the game for nearly 30 minutes, but the third quarter troubles reared their ugly head once more.

The Panthers held TTU to 28 points in the first half, but  gave up 44 in the second half. Morgan Litwiller and Lariah Washington each had great days for EIU. Litwiller scored17 points, collected six rebounds and tallied a career-high five assists.

Washington netted a game-high 21 points along with her six rebounds. The Panthers fall to 3-5 overall (1-2 OVC), while the Golden Eagles move up to 4-2 overall (2-1 OVC). The Panthers will next face Murray State this Thursday.

QUICK STATS

Morgan Litwiller recorded a career-high five assists.

The Panthers bench has been outscored 85-28 in conference games.

Abby Wahl scored her 30th career double digit game.

The Panthers fall to 2-4 when the opposing team records more turnovers.

Morgan Litwiller was one point shy of tying her career-high 18 points.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

The Panthers and Golden Eagles went back and forth in a defensive battle in the first quarter. The Panthers played great team defense against one of the better offensive teams in the OVC. Early fouls on Mackenzie Coleman allowed Eastern to keep the Golden Eagles at bay. The Panthers led 23-19.
Eastern Illinois had Tennessee Tech frazzled early in the second quarter. The Golden Eagles couldn't find their momentum while the Panthers had turned it on, and the fast break offense thrived. Litwiller led the Panthers in scoring with 11 points,  nine of them three-pointers. The Panthers went into halftime with a 36-28 lead. 

The Panthers started the third quarter with some great momentum, but the Golden Eagles managed to get back into the game towards the end. The third quarter continued to be something the Panthers will need to work on holding halftime leads.

Mackenzie Coleman gave the Golden Eagles their first lead, but the Panthers fought back and tied the game. Eastern Illinois managed to retain the lead going into the fourth quarter, 52-51.

The fourth quarter remained more of the same: closely contested. The Panthers and Golden Eagles went back and forth, but neither team could pull too far away.

Washington showed her clutch abilities on offense, as she scored 10 points in the final quarter. The Golden Eagles made three consecutive three-pointers and regained the lead, 67-63.

The seconds narrowed down, and the Panthers were forced to foul. Coach Bollant took a timeout to get a quick game plan for the final 24 seconds of the game. The Panthers couldn't recover that lead after the tough third quarter. The Panthers fell  72-67.