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Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball returned home following a seven-game road trip playing its first game in Lantz Arena in 40 days.  Following two one-possession losses in each of its last two games, Thursday's homecoming again came down to the wire as JaQualis Matlock contested a last second shot by Jacksonville State that missed the rim as EIU held on for a 70-69 win.
 
EIU improved to 8-9 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.  JSU fell to 7-11 overall, 2-3 in the OVC.
 
The Panthers built an eight point lead in the final four minutes as Mack Smith had a lay-up with 4:07 to play giving EIU a 66-58 lead.  De'Torrion Ware would hit a 3-pointer for EIU with 3:54 to play to make it a five-point game.
 
Shareef Smith answered for the Panthers with a 3-pointer with 3:32 left in the contest in what would be the Panthers final field goal of the game.  Smith was 3-for-3 finishing with eight points in his first start of the season.
 
JSU closed to four points with a dunk and lay-up by Kayne Henry over the next two minutes.  Marvin Johnson hit the front end of a one-and-one with 34 seconds for EIU's final points. JSU closed to one point with eight seconds on a shot by Elias Harden but could not convert its final shot of the game.
 
EIU led 32-25 at the half with balanced scoring as Josiah Wallace and Mack Smith both had nine points.  Wallace would finish with a team-high 20 points.  Smith would score 14 including a 3-pointer in the second half as he moved into a tie for third in the NCAA Division I record books with his 66th consecutive game with a made 3-pointer. 
 
George Dixon would be the final EIU player in double figures with 11 points.
 
Jacara Cross led JSU with 18 points going 8-of-10 from the field.  Henry posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.