Box Score CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee State men's basketball team fell to Eastern Illinois, 62-57, at the Lantz Arena.
FIRST HALF: The Tigers forced two shot-clock violations in the opening minutes. The game went scoreless for almost three minutes before
Carlos Marshall Jr. cashed in a mid-range bucket at the elbow. EIU secured their first lead of the game on a three-pointer from Dan Luers, 5-3.
Shakem Johnson tied the game at five-all with a driving layup after an offensive rebound. In the middle of the half,
Kassim Nicholson tied the game with a turn-around jumper.
Nicholson grabbed four rebounds in the first 12 minutes of the game. The Panthers controlled the lead for the latter part of the half.
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. recorded a floater as time expired to cut the deficit to one point. The two programs combined to shoot 2-of-14 from three-point range.
Marshall Jr. led the team with seven points and three steals in the opening stanza. EIU controlled the paint as they out-rebounded TSU (17-to-12) and out-scored the Tigers (14-to-10). ||
EIU, 24-23
SECOND HALF: TSU rattled off five unanswered points to take their first lead since the 12:07 mark in the first half. After EIU tied the game at 28, the Tigers went on a 7-0 run as
Marshall Jr. logged five straight points. Shortly following, the preseason All-OVC selection,
Marshall Jr., registered six consecutive points to extend the lead to double-digits, 43-33. TSU held the lead until the 3:03 mark, as the Panthers took a one-point lead following a three-pointer from Luers and a layup by Paul Bizimana, 53-52. After exchanging free-throws, EIU spilt a pair at the line to keep the game at one possession, 57-54. The Panthers converted two free-throws to move the advantage to two possessions, 59-54. With 30 seconds left,
Kenny Cooper drained a three-ball to keep TSU in the contest. EIU's Kejuan Clements spilt a pair at the line, then forced an offensive foul on the opposite end to retain the ball. The Panthers sealed the game at the charity stripe. ||
EIU, 62-57
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Carlos Marshall Jr. led TSU with 25 points, one shy of his career-high, and three steals.
- Kassim Nicholson logged seven points and 10 rebounds, four of which offensive.
- Emmanuel Dowuona recorded a career-high four blocks.
- EIU's Paul Bizimana scored 20 points (6-of-7 FG, 7-for-7 FT) and six rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- Nicholson grabbed double-digit rebounds for the 10th time this season.
- Marshall Jr. was the only Tiger to score in double-figures.
- Tennessee State ends a hectic month of January, as TSU played eight games in 17 days.
UP NEXT: Tennessee State will take the court at the Gentry Center on Thursday at approx. 7:30pm against Nashville and OVC rival, Belmont.
