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NASHVILLE – Tennessee State built an impressive first half lead with a 21-3 run as the Tigers held off a second half Eastern Illinois charge to win 83-63 on Saturday night.

With the win Tennessee State wrapped up the No. 6 seed in the OVC Tournament with a 12-17 overall record, 9-9 in league play. Eastern Illinois will enter the OVC Tourney as the No. 7 seed also with a 12-17 overall record, 8-10 in the OVC.

After trailing 43-25 at the half, Eastern Illinois chipped away at the lead with the sharp shooting of Romain Martin who matched his career high with 29 points. Martin sank a 3-pointer to close TSU's lead to 11 with 17:01 left.

Darius Cox answered for TSU with 23 points hitting 9-of-11 from the floor as he put the Tigers back up by 16 points at 12:22.

EIU trimmed the lead down to nine points on another 3-pointer at 6:23 and closed to nine points again at 3:19 on a lay-up by Ousmane Cisse. Jeremiah Crutcher hit one of his two shots on the game on the next possession and TSU pulled away in the final two minutes.

Eastern Illinois took an early lead 5-3 as Martin and Billy Parrish combined for back-to-back baskets in the first 2:15 of the contest.

Tennessee State answered with baskets on eight of their first nine possessions to pull away with a 21-3 run for a commanding 24-8 lead with 10:13 left in the half. TSU finished shooting 63 percent for the half as they led 43-25 at the break.

Jerrell Houston had 11 first half points while Darius Cox added 10 in the opening half. Martin countered for EIU with 12 in the first half hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

Houston finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds with Gerald Robinson adding 19. Tyler Laser had 9 for EIU who finished the game hitting 41 percent from the field.

Eastern Illinois will play at Austin Peay on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. EIU fell at Austin Peay on Thursday night.