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Nakyel Shelton had a double-double for Eastern Illinois as the Panthers lost a tough home contest on Thursday falling 69-64 to Tennessee Tech at Groniger Arena.
 
It was a tale of two halves for EIU as the Panthers were 4-of-9 from 3-point range in the opening half building a 37-28 halftime lead over TTU.  Shelton, Zion Fruster, Kooper Jacobi and Obadiah Curtis all had first half 3-pointers for the Panthers.
 
In the second half Tennessee Tech opened with a 10-0 run taking a 38-37 lead on a 3-pointer by Jaylon Johnson with 17:21 to play in the game.  Johnson hit 3-of-6 from 3-point range in the game with TTU knocking down six 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes.  Johnson was one of four Golden Eagles in double figures.
 
JaJuan Nicholls put back basket with 11:33 left to play stretched the TTU lead out to 11 at 53-42.  Nicholls had ten points.
 
With just over seven and half minutes remaining EIU trimmed the lead to three on a 6-0 run which featured a 3-pointer by Corey Sawyer Jr and a three point play by Nakyel Shelton.  Sawyer scored 11 off the bench while Shelton led all players with 20 points pulling down 13 rebounds.
 
Grant Slatten answered with a 3-point for TTU to extend the lead back to six with the Panthers cutting it to a single possession deficit five more times in the final 3:37 of action.   Malik Olafioye's driving lay-up with 2:16 to play got the Panthers to within one point.
 
Kooper Jacobi was the third EIU player in double figures with 14 points and two blocked shots.  Curtis had three blocks for EIU.
 
Daniel Egbuniwe posted a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds with Kyle Layton the final TTU player in double figures with ten.
 
EIU is now 5-11 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.  TTU improved to 10-6 overall, 4-1 in the OVC.