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CHARLESTON, Ill. – For the second straight game, Eastern Illinois men's basketball battled an Ohio Valley Conference opponent until the final minute of play only to fall short of winning.  On Saturday night Jacksonville State edged EIU 61-55 in Lantz Arena.

Tarvin Gaines hit a 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining to break a 53-53 tie as JSU improved to 12-5 overall, 4-2 in the OVC.  EIU fell to 3-15 overall, 0-5 in the OVC.  EIU plays at Murray State on Thursday night.

The first half had six ties and seven lead changes as the Gamecocks led 29-26 at the half.  Gaines had 12 first half points for JSU while Austin Akers and Taylor Jones each had six points to lead EIU.  Jones was 2-of-2 from 3-point range as EIU was 3-of-5 from 3-point range in the half and 5-of-11 for the game.

Gaines extended the JSU lead to seven points on a free throw with 19:05 left in the game after Ronnie Boggs opened the half with a 3-pointer.

EIU tied the game at 39-39 at the 13:21 mark as Cameron Harvey sank a 3-pointer as he finished with seven points.  A 3-pointer by Jones with 7:55 left gave EIU its first lead of the second half at 46-43.

The two teams traded the lead over the next six plus minutes.  Brian Williams gave JSU a 3-point lead with 3:57 left while Akers answered for EIU, first with a lay-up at 3:38 before tying the game on a free throw at 2:46.

Gaines then gave JSU the lead for good at the 1:18 mark as he led all players with 22 points hitting 2-of-5 from 3-point range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.  Williams added 16 points hitting 8-of-13.

Sherman Blanford led EIU with 10 points and seven rebounds.  Jones and Akers finished with nine.  Jones was 3-of-3 from 3-point range.