Box Score
MURRAY, Ky. – Eastern Illinois had two 3-point shots for a chance to tie the game in regulation in the final 18 seconds after Murray State missed a pair of free throws that would have iced the game. In the end, both shots were off course for the Panthers as they lost 73-70 on Thursday night.
EIU fell to 11-10 overall, 4-5 in the OVC. Murray State remained undefeated in the OVC at 9-0 improving to 16-5 overall.
Murray State led 32-27 at the half extending the lead to 46-30 after a 10-0 run keyed by a pair of 3-pointers by Tevin Brown. Brown would score 24 points to lead the Racers.
Josiah Wallace would stop the MSU run with a baseline jumper with 13:44 left in the game. EIU then strung together a 9-0 run to close to 56-51 with 8:15 to play.
JaQualis Matlock scored five points in the run with a 3-pointer and another bucket off a steal.
Wallace cut the margin to three points with 6:18 to play and then EIU closed to within one point four times in the final minutes. Wallace had 24 points.
George Dixon and
Marvin Johnson also had buckets that brought EIU to within one point in the final minutes.
Eastern Illinois had a good start to the game as the Panthers built a seven point lead just over halfway through the first half.
Jordan Skipper-Brown hit a jumper at the top of the paint to push the EIU lead out to 18-11.
Murray State answered with a 13-2 run with Tevin Brown knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to score 11 of the 13 points as the Racers took a 24-20 lead on Brown's final 3-pointer.
Johnson halted the Racers run with a dunk off a steal as EIU had five team steals in the first half. Murray State held a 32-27 lead at the break.
EIU dominated play on the glass finishing with a 44-28 margin including 22 offensive rebounds. Dixon had 10 points to go with 15 rebounds. Matlock had seven rebounds with five on the offensive end.
Mack Smith had ten points including a pair of 3-pointers as his NCAA leading consecutive game streak with a made 3-pointer was extended to 70 games.
Murray State shot 50 percent from the field. KJ Williams had 14 points and nine rebounds. Demond Robinson had ten points.