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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois scored the first basket of the game and following two early ties by UT Martin, the Panthers took the lead for good on
Montell Goodwin's 3-pointer with 17:22 to play in the first as EIU beat UTM 81-71 on Thursday night in Lantz Arena.
EIU improved to 12-13 overall, 4-8 in the OVC. UT Martin dropped to 17-10, 7-5 in the OVC.
Demetrius McReynolds scored the first four points of the game for EIU. After UTM tied the game with baskets by Jacolby Mobley and Javier Martinez, Goodwin drained the 3-pointer pushed the Panthers in front for good. EIU led for 38:29 of the game as Goodwin and McReynolds powered the offense in the first half. Both players scored 14 points for EIU as they shot 55 percent from the field and 54 percent from 3-point range (7-of-13).
After Goodwin hit the 3-pointer at the 17:22 mark, Mobley quickly answered with a lay-up to trim the Panthers lead to one.
Terrell Lewis and
Casey Teson sandwiched 3-pointers around a lay-up by McReynolds as EIU used an 8-0 run to give themselves an early cushion.
Goodwin added a lay-up with just over ten minutes to play in the first that gave EIU its first double digit lead of the game. UT Martin responded with a run of its own cutting the EIU lead to one point with 6:51 to play in the first on a Mobley 3-pointer. Mobley would lead the Skyhawks with 17 points as they trailed 28-27.
EIU responded with a 13-3 run as they quickly ran the lead back to double figures.
Joe Kuligoski sank a 3-pointer from corner to put EIU up 11 with 1:57 to play in the first. EIU would take a 45-33 lead to the locker room.
The Skyhawks made an early charge to open the second half as they cut the lead to six points on two plays by Chandler Rowe; first a 3-pointer and then a dunk with 15:18 to play that shrank the EIU lead to 50-44.
McReynolds converted on free throws with Goodwin and Teson each sinking 3-pointers as EIU stretched the lead back to double figures. Teson's 3-pointer with 12:59 to play made it 58-48. EIU finished the game 12-of-24 from 3-point range. Teson added 14 points which included an 8-of-9 night from the foul line. Goodwin led all players with 22 points while McReynolds had 16.
A Mobley lay-up with 6:53 to play cut the EIU lead down to eight but that would be as close the Skyhawks would get. Javier Martinez finished with a double-double scoring 16 points with 11 rebounds. Jalen Jackson added 11 points.
Ray Crossland was the fourth EIU player in double figures with ten points. Lewis had a season high nine assists.