Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Jeremy Granger hit a runner in the lane that took several bounces on the rim before falling through with 1.7 seconds remaining as Eastern Illinois escaped with a 72-70 exhibition win over Olivet Nazarene on Tuesday evening. Granger finished with a team-high 15 points going 6-of-9 from the field.

Jordan Harks hit a lay-up in transition with 7:14 left in the game to give Olivet Nazarene a 61-60 lead. Ousmane Cisse would answer hitting a pair of free throws on the other end as the Panthers looked like they were poised to pull away with an 8-0 run covering three minutes late in the game.

Trailing 68-61, Tyler Wallenfang hit a pair of free throws to start a Tigers run and capped it with a base line jumper that pulled ONU to within one point with 1:18 left. Granger would extend the Panthers lead to 70-67 with 47 seconds left as he knocked down a pair of free throws only to see Josh Bronke convert a 3-pointer off an in-bounds play with 38 seconds left to tie the game.

Granger would then take the ball at the top of the key and make the running jumper to give the Panthers the win. Tyler Laser would add 15 points for the Panthers while Cisse and Shaun Pratl both pulled down ten rebounds.

EIU shot 60 percent in the first half but only led 44-42 as ONU hit 8-of-13 from 3-point range to stay close. Olivet Nazarene would hit only 1-of-8 from beyond the arc in the second half. The Panthers hit 21-of-30 free throws.

Olivet Nazarene was led by Bronke with 16 points.

EIU will open the regular season on Saturday night at Toledo with a 6 p.m. tip off.