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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Curry McKinney pulled down a rebound on a missed Tennessee State free throw with five seconds remaining and Eastern Illinois was able to hold on for a 68-67 win in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both schools. EIU improved to 3-4, 1-0 OVC while TSU fell to 1-6, 0-1 OVC.

Both team shot lights out in the opening half as TSU connected for 64 percent and EIU for 60 percent as the score was tied at 40-40 at the half. Robert Covington and Wil Peters had ten points each to lead TSU at the break while Tyler Laser and Shaun Pratl had ten each to lead EIU.

The biggest lead for the Panthers of the game was four points at the 10:12 mark of the first half when Pratl converted a lay-up. Pratl finished with 14 points as four EIU players finished in double figures.

TSU's biggest lead of the game was seven at the 17:13 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer by Kenny Moore. TSU finished the day shooting 52 percent from 3-point range as they hit 11-of-21. Peters led all players with 21 points going 7-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from 3-point range.

After each team was on fire from the field in the opening half, they cooled off in the second half as James Hollowell scored the first field goal of the second twenty minutes with a lay-up at 16:22. Hollowell also had 14 points for the Panthers scoring six in the second half.

The game had 13 ties and 20 lead changes. The final tie was 58-58 at the 5:23 mark. Pratl broke the tie by converting a pair of free throws. Covington gave TSU its final lead with a 3-pointer at 5:03. Covington had 15 and nine rebounds.

Laser answered with a 3-pointer and EIU kept the Tigers at a 3-point distance for most of the final five minutes. TSU's Chris Conner was fouled with five seconds remaining on a 3-point attempt. He would make the first two before his miss on the third shot was pulled down by McKinney who led all rebounders with 11.

EIU will host Austin Peay at 6 p.m. on Saturday.