Box Score
NASHVILLE – Eastern Illinois men's basketball had only eight players available on Saturday afternoon at Nashville due to COVID-19 protocols as Tennessee State was able to use that to its advantage in a 65-54 win at the Gentry Center.
EIU fell to 5-10 on the season, 2-6 in the OVC as the Panthers featured their tenth different starting line-up in 15 games. TSU improved to 3-10 overall, 2-8 in the OVC.
Eastern Illinois trailed for a majority of the game taking its only lead of the contest with 15:31 to play in the second half on a jumper by
Marvin Johnson. Johnson's bucket gave EIU a brief 33-32 lead. Johnson led EIU with 16 points.
TSU responded with an 11-0 run as the Tigers blew open a close contest.
Henry Abraham would stop the TSU run with a 3-pointer with 10:33 remaining in the game. Abraham joined Johnson in double figures with 12 knocking down four 3-pointers.
TSU shot 50 percent in the second half and 46.9 for the game. The Tigers won the battle on the glass by a 45-26 margin. Yusef Mohamed led TSU with eight rebounds.
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr., led TSU with 15 points.
EIU shot 32.8 percent for the game including 6-of-26 from 3-point range.