Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois took the lead with 11:03 remaining in the second half on a Kooper Jacobi fastbreak basket off a turnover and the Panthers never trailed again as they picked up a 71-61 win over Tennessee Tech on Thursday night at Groniger Arena.
 
Jacobi's basket was part of a 12-1 run that took the Panthers from trailing 48-45 with 12:08 to play to a 57-49 lead with 5:29 to play.
 
Andre Washington had seven points during the run as he led the panthers with 20 points, one of five Panthers in double figures in the game.  Jacobi scored four points in the run finishing with 11 points.
 
EIU shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the second half and turned the ball over just one time in the game.  The Panthers defense created 23 points off turnovers compared to just two for TTU.
 
Meechie White (13), Zion Fruster (10) and Preston Turner (10) all joined the double figure scoring party for EIU as the Panthers improved to 5-10 overall, 2-4 in the OVC.
 
Tennessee Tech (6-10 overall, 1-4 OVC) held a 36-29 lead at the half knocking down 6-of-13 shots from 3-point range.  The Golden Eagles were held without a 3-pointer in the second half going 0-7 from behind the arc.
 
Nazareth Fisher scored the first basket of the second half for EIU with Trey Owens countering with a basket for TTU.  That would be the biggest lead TTU could post in the opening eight minutes of second half action.
 
Jah'Kim Payne led the Golden Eagles with 11 points.  Mekhi Turner joined him in double figures with ten.