Tweet #WinTheMoment

PDF Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Tennessee State took the lead on a three-point play with 42 seconds remaining and the Tigers held off two final Eastern Illinois scoring possessions to beat the Panthers 64-60 on Saturday afternoon.
 
After trailing by five points with six minutes left in the game TSU took the lead late at 56-54 on a three point play with 3:26 remaining as Justin Williams hit a jumper and follow-up free throw.
 
EIU tied the game for the first of several times in the final minutes as Tiger Booker hit a jumper to knot the game at 58-58 with 2:58 to play.
 
TSU took the lead late a second time with 1:30 remaining on another Williams jumper as he scored 16 points, one of three Tigers in double figures.
 
Corey Sawyer Jr had the answer this time for EIU tying the game at 58-58 with 1:08 left in the game.
 
TSU's final big play came on a three-point play by Kinyon_Hodges with 48 seconds left.   Booker cut the lead down to one with a jumper with 32 seconds left as TSU led 61-60.  Booker scored 18 points to tie for game-high honors with teammate Nakyel Shelton.
 
EIU was forced to foul on the next possession with Williams pushing the lead out to three after making both free throws. TSU was 22-of-26 at the line in the game. 
 
The Panthers came up short on a final 3-point attempt and TSU hit one-of-two free throws to cap the win.
 
Sawyer was the third EIU player in double figures with 13 points.
 
Christian Brown led TSU with 17 points.  Hodges added eight for the Tigers.
 
EIU fell back below .500 at 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the OVC.  TSU is now 12-9 overall, 5-3 in the OVC.