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NASHVILLE – Eastern Illinois rallied from nine points down in double overtime to force a third overtime as the Panthers (4-2, 1-0 OVC) rallied to win 83-81 in the second longest game in EIU history.
Trailing 67-58 with just over 1:30 left in the second overtime #T.J. Marion hit a pair of driving baskets to pull the Panthers closer. Curry McKinney then picked off a pair of TSU inbound passes and hit a 3-pointer and runner to bring the Panthers to within one possession. Tyler Laser# was able to force the third overtime with a floater in the lane with 5 seconds left.
In the third overtime period Jeremy Granger tied the game at 77-77 with 4:06 to play before the Panthers used a 4-0 run to build a 81-77 advantage with 56 seconds remaining. Marion put EIU up 83-79 with 8 seconds left before TSU hit a shot as time expired. TSU fell to 1-7 overall, 0-1 in the OVC.
The game marked the second longest game in EIU history, the longest coming on Jan. 30, 1988 with a 126-121 four overtime loss at Northern Iowa. EIU will return to action on Saturday at Austin Peay after the Governors won their league opener in overtime against Southeast Missouri.
Eastern Illinois was able to break the Tennessee State pressure for several high percentage shots in the opening twenty minutes as the Panthers scored 18 points in the paint during a 28-24 halftime lead.
Edin Suljic scored 11 while Ousmane Cisse added 10 to lead the Panthers in the first half. Cisse also pulled down five first half rebounds to become just the 12th player in EIU history to collect more than 600 rebounds for his career.
After committing only four turnovers in the first half, TSU was able to force 15 EIU turnovers in the remaining portion of the game scoring 21 points off turnovers. The game was tied at 51-51 at the end of regulation and 57-57 following overtime number one. The game was tied at 75-57 heading into the third overtime.
EIU had two players collect double-doubles as Suljic had a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Cisse had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Laser added 15 and Marion 12. EIU was 32-of-67 for the game and just 3-of-18 from 3-point range.
Jeremiah Crutcher had scored seven of TSU's final eight points in the second overtime from the free throw line. Crutcher finished with 21 points. Robert Covington added 17.
