Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois men's basketball kept the Old Railsplitter Ax in Charleston for a few more weeks as the Panthers were able to grind out a 57-55 win over in-state rival Western Illinois on Tuesday night at Groniger Arena.
 
On a night when both teams struggled to generate consistent offense, Terry McMorris led EIU with 12 points, the only Panther in double figures as EIU won its fifth straight home game improving to 7-10 overall, 4-3 in the OVC.
 
EIU led 29-24 at the half with WIU taking its largest lead of one point for the fourth and final time with 8:26 to play in the first on an Antwaun Massey jumper.  EIU responded with an 8-0 run before taking the five point lead into the half.
 
The Panthers biggest lead of the game was nine points with 9:19 remaining on free throws by Kooper Jacobi giving EIU a 47-38 lead.  Jacobi just missed a double-double with nine points, ten rebounds.  
 
Preston Turner pushed the lead to nine points one final time for EIU with 5:37 to play in the game knocking down a pair of free throws.  Turner was 6-of-6 at the line scoring eight points.  As team EIU finished 18-of-23 at the stripe.
 
WIU continued to chip away at the lead getting it down to two points with eight seconds remaining on a basket by Karyiek Dixon following a Leathernecks steal.  Dixon finished the game with 14 points, 15 rebounds.
 
EIU inbounded the ball and was fouled.  Following two misses at the free throw line, WIU was unable to get off a last second shot falling to 4-10 overall, 0-7 in the OVC.
 
Lucas Lorenzen scored 13 points to join Dixon in double figures for WIU.