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Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball built a 15 point lead early in the second half before holding on to beat Tennessee Tech, 87-81, in Ohio Valley Conference action Saturday afternoon at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.
 
EIU improved to 4-5 overall, 1-1 in the OVC.  TTU fell to 1-10 overall, 1-3 in the OVC.
 
After a seesaw battle for most of the first half, EIU closed the half on an 8-3 run as the Panthers led 45-38 at the half.  Kashawn Charles knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during the run as he finished 6-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-4 from 3-point range scoring 16 points.
 
The Panthers then went on a 12-2 run to open the second half with baskets by Josiah Wallace and George Dixon capping the run as the Panthers led 57-42 with 16:56 remaining.  Wallace finished with 19 points in his return to the EIU line-up after missing Wednesday's game at Eastern Kentucky due to COVID-19 protocols.
 
EIU would keep the lead at 15 for the next two and a half minutes with Wallace answering baskets by Tennessee Tech on two occasions. 
 
The Golden Eagles chipped away at the lead closing the Panthers lead to 63-58 with 12:20 to play following a 10-0 run.  Keishawn Davidson and Shandon Goldman both drained 3-pointers during the run for TTU.  Davidson (12 pts) and Goldman (13 pts) were two of the four TTU players to finish in double figures.
 
A 3-pointer by Jr. Clay would make it a one possession game with 10:08 to play at 68-65 before Wallace answered with a 3-pointer for EIU.
 
Damaria Franklin brought Tennessee Tech within two points with a lay-up with 7:53 to play making it, 73-71.  Marvin Johnson's dunk off a TTU turnover with 6:37 to play put the Panthers back up four and Tennessee Tech would never get within one possession the remainder of the game.  Johnson posted his second double-double of the season with 19 points and ten assists.
 
Franklin finished with 25 points to lead all scorers while Clay added 19 for TTU.
 
The Panthers played without senior guard Mack Smith who was out with an injury suffered late in the EKU game.  On Wednesday, Smith set the NCAA record for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer at 89 straight.