Box Score

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Chris Olivier hit the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining in regulation to lead the Panther men's basketball team to a 70-69 win over Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon inside Lantz Arena. The win snapped the Panthers six-game losing streak as EIU improved to 4-8 overall and 1-0 in Ohio Valley Conference action.

Trailing 69-65 with 33 seconds on the clock, Alex Austin drained a three pointer to get the Panthers within one (69-68). After Tennessee State's Jay Harris missed a free throw on the next play, Olivier hit the game winner off a put back from a missed shot by Sherman Blanford.

EIU started the game on a 7-4 run and led by as many as 15 points (26-11) at the 7:56 mark. The Panthers never trailed in the first half and took a 33-28 advantage into intermission.

Tennessee State opened the second stanza on a 13-5 run to take their first lead of the game, 41-38, with 15:20 left on the clock. The Tigers had their largest lead, 63-53, with 4:11 on the clock before the Panthers rallied back to outscore Tennessee State, 17-6, in the closing minutes.

Four Panthers scored in double figures led by Blanford who scored 15 points, going 6-for-12 from the floor and 3-for-5 from the charity stripe. Olivier finished the game with 14 points while Reggie Smith and Alex Austin both added 10 points. Smith also dished out a game-high seven assists.

EIU had a 40-32 advantage on the glass, paced by Olivier's game-high 15 rebounds. Blanford also grabbed eight rebounds in the win. Olivier also had three of the Panthers five blocks.

Patrick Miller led the Tigers with a game-high 30 points, going 9-for-19 from the floor and 10-for-11 from the foul line. Jacquan Nobles added 14 points while M.J. Rhett chipped in 10 points and team-high eight rebounds.

EIU finished the contest going 25-for-64 from the floor while Tennessee State hit 44 percent of its shot attempts (22-for-50). The Panthers also went 13-for-16 from the foul line while the Tigers connected on 81.8 percent of their free throws (18-for-22).

The Panthers return to action on Thursday, Jan. 2 against Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m.