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MARTIN, Tenn. – The late game heroics continued for Eastern Illinois men's basketball on Thursday night as the Panthers pulled out a 66-64 road win at UT Martin.
EIU improved to 12-8 overall, 5-2 in the OVC. UTM fell to 5-13, 0-7 in the OVC.
Josiah Wallace drained a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in the game to give the Panthers the final lead. Freshman
Cam Burrell then blocked a put-back shot attempt under the basket as time expired to seal the victory for the Panthers.
EIU trailed by 12 points at the half and slowly chipped away at the lead. The Panthers opened the second half with six straight points by
JaQualis Matlock as he finished with 13 points.
A steal by Matlock that resulted in a dunk by Burrell cut the Skyhawks lead down to one point with 10:31 to play in the half. Burrell would then give EIU a lead with back-to-back baskets as the Panthers led 56-53. Burrell would finish with 11 points.
UT Martin responded to the Panthers run by turning to the 3-point shot. Kevin Little knocked down a 3-pointer followed by a 3-pointer by Delfincko Bogan with 3:48 to play that gave the Skyhawks a five point lead, 63-58. Little had 16 points and Bogan 12 to lead UTM.   The Skyhawks were 11-of-28 from 3-point range for the game.
Five straight points by Wallace tied the game before Quintin Dove would convert one of two at the free throw line with 31 seconds left to give UTM a 64-63 lead.Â
Wallace then capped the Panthers second straight late game win with his 3-pointer as he scored 17 points to lead EIU.Â
UT Martin pushed out to an 11-point lead with just over 3 minutes to play in the first half taking advantage of a Panthers late shooting slump. Bogan knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 31-20.
EIU would answer Bogan's 3-pointer with a quick 7-0 run of its own to trim the lead to 31-27 with 1:32 to play. Wallace triggered the run with a 3-pointer followed by back-to-back baskets by
Ben Harvey.
The Skyhawks closed the half on an 8-0 run to lead 39-27 at the half. Little scored five of the eight points in the run to finish with ten first half points.Â
Mack Smith rounded out the Panthers double figure scorers with 14 points as he knocked down four 3-pointers. Smith extended his consecutive games with a 3-pointer made streak to 37 games.