EIU Downs TSU In Overtime, 77-67

NASHVILLE – Eastern Illinois rallied from 13 points down in the second half to force overtime on Thursday night at Tennessee State.  In the extra session EIU outscored TSU 16-6 to pick up a 77-67 win over the Tigers.

EIU improved to 11-12 overall, 3-7 in the OVC.  TSU fell to 13-10, 4-6 in the OVC.

TSU shot 46 percent in the opening half and led 31-19 at the break as Delano Spencer closed out the first half with five straight points after EIU had cut the lead down to 26-17 on a jumper from the top of the key by Muusa Dama.  Dama had ten first half points and 16 for the game as EIU had four players score in double figures.

Wayne Martin was a force for TSU in the first half scoring 11 points. The Panthers would clamp down on him in the second half as he finished with 16 points.

EIU’s top two scorers on the season, Demetrius McReynolds and Montell Goodwin, were both held scoreless in the opening half.  McReynolds scored the first basket of the second half for the Panthers and triggered an 11-0 run by the Panthers that cut the lead the TSU lead to two points with 10:06.  McReynolds hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 50-46.   On the play Patrick Muldoon was fouled and hit both free throws to make it a one possession game.

The two teams traded the lead in the final four minutes with EIU tying the game with 41 seconds left in regulation as McReynolds drove to the basket.  The senior would finish with 22 points.

In overtime Terrell Lewis opened with a 3-pointer that Spencer immediately answered for the Tigers as he had 13 points for TSU.

EIU would score the next 11 points to open up the game and pick up EIU’s first overtime win this season after losing three previous overtime games.

Lewis and Goodwin both finished with 11 points.  Tahjere McCall had 11 points for TSU.