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MARTIN, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois played with its starting five nearly the entire second half with all five contributing during a 79-72 win over UT Martin on Thursday night in a nationally televised game on ESPNU.
The game was tied 38-38 at the half with Tiger Booker scoring the final six points of the first scoring 15 of his 21 points in the opening half.
EIU used a 9-1 run in the second to take a 54-46 lead with 14:26 left in the game.Â
Corey Sawyer Jr scored seven of the nine plus passed out an assist for a
Kyndall Davis dunk to end the run.  Sawyer scored 20 points, one of three Panthers in double figures.
Kooper Jacobi was the final Panther in double figures hitting a 3-pointer with 11:54 to play putting EIU up ten, 59-49. Jacobi hit five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.
UT Martin had a couple of more runs cutting the lead to four points one final time with back-to-back baskets by Jordan Sears as EIU led 70-66 with 4:50 to play.
Booker knocked down a 3-pointer to answer and the Panthers made key free throws and defensive stops to clinch the win.Â
Nakyel Shelton pulled down 12 rebounds as EIU finished even on the glass on the night with 36-36 total.
Sears led all scorers with 26 points. KK Curry added 16 including a 7-of-10 night at the free throw line as the Skyhawks were 17-of-22 at the stripe.
EIU improved to 7-8 overall, 1-1 in the OVC.  UTM dropped to 9-7 overall, 2-1 in the OVC.
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