When a basketball team loses a game when it has held a double-digit lead in the second half one time it can be acceptable.

But when it happens frequently there are going to be problems.

The Eastern men’s basketball team lost to Southeast Missouri on Saturday despite, at one point in the second half, having a 17-point lead.

The final score was 78-75, giving the Panthers their third Ohio Valley Conference loss.

With a record of 2-3, the Panthers are currently in seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

This record could, and probably should, be 4-1 and that would be good enough for first place in the conference.

Eastern should have been able to hold onto a 17-point lead against SEMO; however, turnovers and poor shooting cost them a crucial OVC win.

Every win in conference is important and it is not a good idea to give away any games.

The Panthers should have been able to pick up another win against Austin Peay on Dec. 4.

With less than 10 minutes to go in the second half, Eastern held a 13-point lead and looked to be in complete control of the game.

The Panthers soon learned how quickly things change, as Austin Peay started getting every loose ball and almost every rebound.

Eastern was simply out-worked, resulting in a 77-73 overtime loss.

If the Panthers had won both of these games, they would be 4-1 in the OVC instead of 2-3.

The win against Austin Peay would put the Governors’ record at 4-1 also, leaving the Panthers in an early tie for first in the conference.

I am not saying that it is time to stop believing in the Panthers, they just need to perform better with a lead.

Come OVC tournament time, teams need to play composed if they are going to have a shot at winning the tournament.

Eastern has a good team, they just need some more time to develop and adjust.

It also does not help that the team’s leader, senior guard Tyler Laser, has been out the last five games.

I still have faith that Eastern will contend for an OVC title because they have a young, talented team.

Once the team gets completely healthy and starts putting teams away, instead of letting them back in, the record will reverse and things will begin to get interesting in the OVC.

Rob Mortell can be reached at

581-7944 or at rdmortell@eiu.edu.