Spring Break
Men's Basketball: Clutch shooting seals win
Dan Cusack / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/2/09 Section: Sports
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But the Panthers overcame a second half deficit for a home victory against Jacksonville State in Lantz Arena.
The Panthers opened the game fast, taking a 16-5 lead, but Jacksonville State was able to get back into the game. Eastern then secured a 34-25 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Gamecocks came out and controlled the game, going on a 17-2 run with a flurry of 3-pointers from Jacksonville State guards DeAndre Bray and Jonathon Toles as they took the lead 42-36.
Eastern's biggest second half deficit came with 8 minutes, 16 seconds remaining in the second half as Eastern trailed 52-46 after two free throws by Gamecocks' sophomore guard Jeremy Bynum.
Eastern junior guard Romain Martin made two big shots and sophomore center Matt Dorlack came off the bench and added a career-high six points as the Panthers and Gamecocks were tied four times in the last six minutes.
"I think you can point to a couple things during that stretch," Eastern coach Mike Miller said. "I think we made a couple of stops and got a couple of big rebounds."
Miller said Dorlack coming off the bench and making plays at the basket was big because Eastern was unable to do anything around the basket before the game.
Junior forward Billy Parrish gave Eastern (10-11, 7-4 Ohio Valley Conference) the lead for good after he made two free throws with 1:26 remaining.
Following the free throw, the Gamecocks (9-11, 3-8) had a chance to take the lead, but their shots came up short and junior center Ousmane Cisse got a rebound and was fouled, securing the Panthers' hold on fourth place in the league.
The seven wins mark the most amount of league wins since the 2004-2005 season.
That is also the last time the Panthers made the conference tournament, and the 10 wins also mark a career high for Miller.
Junior guard Tyler Laser said the difference in the game was Eastern's ability to make clutch free throws down the stretch. Laser made a few huge jumpers toward the end.
Laser made a cut to the baseline and stopped, setting himself free for a jumper, which cut the lead to three.
"Coach gave me a setup to try and get something baseline and I just went. He was coming on me hard," Laser said. "So I stepped back, got some room and hit the shot."
Martin led all scorers with 19 points, while Laser finished with 13. Cisse led the team with 13 rebounds.
Junior guard T.J. Marion was a game-time decision because of a bad foot, but played 35 minutes with seven points, three assists and three rebounds.
Eastern will have the week off, as its next game will be at 7 p.m. next Saturday against Southeast Missouri at Lantz Arena.
Men's standings
Team / OVC / Overall
Morehead State / 9-2 / 13-10
Austin Peay / 8-3 / 12-9
UT Martin / 7-3 / 14-6
Eastern Illinois / 7-4 / 10-11
Murray State / 5-4 / 10-9
Eastern Kentucky / 6-5 / 13-9
Tennessee Tech / 5-6 / 11-10
Tennessee State / 4-7 / 6-15
Jacksonville State / 3-8 / 9-11
SE Missouri / 0-12 / 3-20
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.
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