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Obadiah Curtis hit the game tying shot with 2.6 seconds left in regulation and then scored six of Eastern Illinois points in the overtime session as the Panthers picked up their first OVC win of the year with a 78-74 win over Lindenwood.
 
EIU led by as many as 16 points in the second half before Lindenwood chipped away at the lead.  The Panthers built a 35-27 at the half behind 20 first half points by Zion Fruster.  Fruster led all scorers in the game with 29 points including four in overtime.
 
Kooper Jacobi hit a 3-pointer with 13:44 left to extend the Panthers lead to 48-32.
 
The Lions cut the deficit to single digits on the last of three straight free throws by Anias Futrell with 8:48 to play trimming the EIU lead to 50-41.  Futrell was 10-of-12 at the line scoring 18 points off the bench.
 
Jalen Bouknight sank a 3-pointer with 1:23 to play in regulation to given Lindenwood its first lead since the five minute mark of the first half.  A Futrell 3-pointer with 40 seconds left gave the Lions a three point lead at 63-60.
 
Artese Stapleton made two free throws on EIU's next possession and after Lindenwood made just one of two free throws on its next possession, Curtis hit an off-balance shot from the left side of the basket to knot the game at 64-64 in regulation.
 
In the extra session EIU built a seven point lead on a basket by Rodolfo Bolis and then held on with several Curtis free throws in the final 30 seconds.  Curtis finished with 11 points.
 
Jacobi had a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds while Stapleton added 12 points.
 
Markeith Browning II led Lindenwood with 21 points with Jadis Jones the third Lion in double figures with ten.
 
EIU improved to 5-8 overall, 1-1 in the OVC.  Lindenwood fell to 6-8 overall, 1-2 in the OVC.