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CHARLESTON, Ill. – UT Martin made ten of its first eleven shots as the Skyhawks (10-18, 5-11 OVC) raced out to a 27-7 lead and never looked back as they knocked off Eastern Illinois, 73-54, on senior night for the Panthers at Lantz Arena. EIU drops to 8-18, 4-12 in the OVC.

UTM raced out to a 14-0 lead before EIU got on the board at 15:15 on a jumper by Shaun Pratl. Mike Liabo responded with a pair of 3-pointers for the Skyhawks to push the lead to 20-2 with 14:16 remaining. Liabo finished with 21 points hitting 8-of-16 from the floor.

EIU was never able to get closer than 16 points in the first half as UTM led 41-22 at the break. The Skyhawks shot 52 percent in the first half and ended the game shooting 49 percent including 40 percent from 3-point range and 95 percent from the free throw line.

UTM extended the second half lead to 22 points at 17:35 as Andres Irarrazabal sank a pair of free throws. EIU would go on an 11-4 run to cut the lead to 15 with 9:02 remaining as Zavier Sanders converted a lay-up.

Troy King answered for the Skyhawks with a lay-up and pair of free throws. EIU was never able to get closer than 16 the remainder of the game. King and Reuben Clayton each added 13 for UTM.

The Panthers were led by Jeremy Granger with 16 points and senior Curry McKinney with 13. The Panthers shot only 35 percent from the floor and were 2-of-14 from 3-point range.

EIU returns to action on Saturday at Toledo as part of the Sears Bracketbusters series. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. (Central).