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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. –
Muusa Dama's tip with 0.05 seconds remaining in regulation gave Eastern Illinois a chance but after two overtime sessions Indiana State won 88-85 on Wednesday night in the Hulman Center.
EIU falls to 8-5 on the season and will open Ohio Valley Conference play on Dec. 31 hosting Jacksonville State at 3:15 p.m. in Lantz Arena. Indiana State improved to 6-6 on the year.
The Panthers built a double digit lead in the second half on
Casey Teson's 3-pointer with 15:55 that put EIU up 46-36. EIU then went on a prolonged scoring drought hitting one field goal over a nine minute period as the Sycamores stormed back to take the lead with 6:08 to play in regulation on a Niels Bunschoten 3-pointer that gave ISU a 54-53 lead. Bunschoten had 13 points off the bench for the Sycamores.
A lay-up by Everett Clemons put the Sycamores up eight points with 3:23 to play as ISU lead 64-56. EIU would not give up as they chipped away at the lead with 3-pointers by
Montell Goodwin and
Cornell Johnston. Trailing by three points with seconds remaining Goodwin was fouled and made the first free throw. He intentionally missed the second and Dama tipped in the ball to tie the game at 67-67. Dama posted a double-double with 13 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks.
In the first overtime session, EIU jumped out to a four point lead on jumpers by Dama and
Demetrius McReynolds. McReynolds would score four points in the overtime to finish with a game-high 25 points. Matt Van Scyoc tied the game at 76-76 with 46 seconds left in the first overtime. Johnston had a half-court shot as the buzzer expired that hit off the back rim.
Indiana State jumped out to a five point lead in the second overtime session with Brandon Murphy getting a put-back dunk and one free throw that gave the Sycamores a 84-79 lead with 1:18 to play. The Panthers did not go away as McReynolds trimmed the lead to 87-85 with nine seconds remaining. ISU turned the ball over on the inbounds pass but EIU turned the ball back over with one second remaining. ISU closed the game with a free throw.
Brenton Scott was big for ISU scoring 23 points including a big 3-pointer in the second overtime. Murphy had 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench as the Sycamores had 38 bench points compared to 11 for EIU. Clemons (13 points) and Jordan Barnes (11) rounded out the double figure ISU players.
Goodwin dropped in 21 points while Johnston had 12 points.