CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS---"The record is inconsequential at this point. It will start getting important when we get to January. Then out record matters."
---Eastern Illinois' head coach Jay Spoonhour following his team's win versus Northern Kentucky.

Okay, now it matters!

Continuing a brutal five-game stretch to begin Ohio Valley Conference play, tonight's matchup with Tennessee State held great importance for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. In addition, it presented an opportunity to build momentum before a road showdown at Belmont. 

Unfortunately, after tonight, most of the steam from their road victory at Jacksonville State has tapered off thanks to the Tennessee State Tigers.

Entering this evening with an OVC best 10-4 overall mark to go along with an undefeated conference record (1-0), Tennessee State utilized an early pounce on their opponent in route to a 66-61 win.

Despite both being tied at the first media timeout (5-5), the Tigers immediately started a 16-2 run spurred with two hustle points from Darreon Reddick and capped off by an "and one" by Tahjere McCall.

Although Eastern Illinois was eventually able to put the "biscuit in the basket" after starting the game out shooting 18.8%, Tennessee State, who's lead became as large as 17 on two of McCall's game-high 22 points with 4:35 remaining, had their bench active on the sideline and their team playing loose. However, perhaps it was too loose.

Right before the under four media timeout, EIU senior Luke Norman made a layup for his first points of the game.

A basket? That's it? 

No, it actually wasn't!

Receiving 7 points from "stud sophomore" Cornell Johnston, the Panthers licked their wounds and began their crawl back into the contest by scoring one more point in the final 4:15 then they had the first 15:45! Eastern Illinois was officially back in the game.

Beginning the second half just like the first, with a Johnston trey, the Panthers began another spurt, this time 7-2, to wither their deficit from eight to three (33-30 TSU). 

Even with Tennessee State quickly recovering thanks to 8-3 and 5-0 jumps when EIU came within three and later forced a tie at 42, the Tigers were never able to fully close the door on the attacker.

Upon a five-point TSU advantage with 10:25 remaining in regulation, the two Ohio Valley contenders went back and forth, for Tennessee State would build a three possession lead just for Eastern Illinois to comeback. Yet, did Spoonhour's Panthers have one more rally in their back pocket down three again (3:34 left in the second half)?

After a very unusual 2 minute and 30 second segment in which neither team posted any points, EIU's Trae Anderson was able to muscle in a layup for two of his team-high 20 points. 57-56 Tennessee State! 

Knowing they needed a basket to ensure at least a three-point edge, Tennessee State called on their go-to guy Keron DeShields despite him experiencing unkind rolls inside the Lantz Arena. Swish! DeShields had nailed a three-pointer from a foot beyond the arc! The Tigers led by four.

Requiring points quickly, Eastern Illinois pushed the ball up court in the form of Cornell Johnston and he attempted a step-back triple. Nothing but nylon! 60-59 Tigers!

Following four made free throws from McCall and the Panthers' Johnston threading the needle to Anderson for two, Eastern Illinois had one last chance to knot the game and force overtime.

Freshman Lucas Jones was forced to inbound the ball to Trae Anderson, for Johnston was denied the ball. The "star senior" then dribbled the ball up court and fired a long triple for the tie. It didn't even hit the rim. The ball bounced out of bounds, Tennessee State found McCall with the inbounds, he made a pair at the charity stripe, and Eastern Illinois was 1-2 in conference play.

McCall Clutch in Conference Play

For Tahjere McCall, it is NOW the "most wonderful time of the year!" After struggling to find consistency in non-conference play (he was held under double-figures for ten of the last nine non-Ohio Valley Conference matchups), the redshirt junior stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals versus Southeast Missouri State. So what? That is just one game! 

Make it two!

This evening, the 6'5" guard continued to make OVC opponents pay as he netted 24 points (5-of-10 shooting from the field and 12-of-14 from the charity stripe), pulled down 7 rebounds, facilitated 4 assists, and recorded 4 steals. Talk about stuffing--not the stockings, but the stat sheet after Christmas!

11-4 (2-0) Tennessee State returns home to host SIU-Edwardsville Saturday afternoon.

They Did What?!

Facing a team who entered Wednesday's action averaging a conference high 38.9 rebounds per game, a key to the contest for Eastern Illinois was to keep the rebound battle close. Yet, they did more than keep it close!

Despite being just one spot away from the conference cellular (for the statistic), undersized Eastern Illinois possessed a 36-33 rebounding advantage upon the final horn's sound. While a pair of freshmen off the bench led the way, Marshawn Blackmon and Patrick Muldoon, "Little T's," aka Cornell Johnston, four boards must not be overlooked. Why? He was the smallest player on the court at 5'7"! A similar tenacity on the glass will be crucial when 4-11 Eastern Illinois travels to the Music City for the aforementioned showdown with Belmont.

He Said It (Part I)

"I thought I got fouled. But, they didn't call it, you just got to play on." 
---Eastern Illinois' Trae Anderson on his game-tying attempt.

He Said It (Part II)

"We were trying to get a ball screen for T (Cornell Johnston), and they denied him and didn't let him catch it. And Lucas Jones just threw the ball into Trae (Anderson). If he (Jones) would have just held onto it, T would have got open and we would have had a center guard. But he (Jones) just ends up throwing it to Trae, and now you got seven seconds. It was suppose to be T (Johnston) would have the ball in his hands, (and) Lucas setting a screen for him."
---Eastern Illinois' head coach Jay Spoonhour about what he had planned for the Panthers' on their final possession.

He Said It (Part III)

"He is playing great isn't he? What they do is--again, it is not like Bradds' got it and is going out there, they just really really run a good offense. And those other guys read stuff so well and their spacing is really good. And then Bradds is a tireless guy. He is 6'6" but he goes after every ball, and he can finish, and he put it on the floor. He is just a really good player."
---Jay Spoonhour on the Belmont Bruins and Evan Bradds.