Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

PDF Box  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Twymond Howard had a rebound tip-in with four seconds remaining in overtime as UT Martin slipped by Eastern Illinois, 75-73, on Thursday night at Lantz Arena. 
 
EIU dropped to 15-12 overall, 8-6 in the OVC.  The Panthers will host Southeast Missouri on Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. with the game televised on the American Sports Network.  UT Martin improved to 17-9, 9-4 in the OVC.
 
In overtime EIU jumped out to a four point lead on jumpers by Chris Olivier and LeTrell Viser.  Oliver would turn in a solid performance with 25 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.  The six blocked shots ties the single game school record.
 
The Skyhawks would tie the game and take the lead on free throws by Marhun Newell.  Two more free throws by Howard put UTM up 73-70 with 1:04 to play.  Freshman guard Cornell Johnston sank his fifth 3-pointer of the game knotting the score at 73 all with 46 seconds remaining. 
 
UT Martin would pull down two offensive rebounds keeping alive the winning possession for the last 46 seconds before Howard finished off the game with the third offensive rebound of the possession.  The Skyhawks finished the night with 19 offensive rebounds leading to 17 second chance points.  They won the battle on the glass by a 46-21 margin.  Howard finished the night with a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Skyhawks opened the game with a 13-0 run and looked like they might have a repeat of their win in Martin, Tenn., in January.  EIU settled down and tied the score with 2:48 left in the first half on a bucket by Olivier.  UTM led 33-28 at the half ending on a 7-2 run.
 
The game had eight ties before EIU took its first lead with 6:22 to play on a Johnston 3-pointer.  Johnston finished with 15 points.  EIU pushed the lead to four in the final five minutes. 
 
Newell tied the game for a tenth time with just under a minute to play.  Both teams missed 3-pointers in the final minute as the regulation score was 64-64.  Newell had 24 points for the Skyhawks.  Alex Anderson added 14.  UTM was 9-of-20 from 3-point range.
 
Viser rounded out the EIU players in double figures with 11 off the bench.