The seconds counted down as junior guard Jeremy Granger handled the ball, down one point to Murray State on Jan. 20.

Five, four, Granger lifted a floating jump shot in the lane, three, and swish of the net sounded as he made his first career game-winning shot.

“It felt good,” Granger said. “I had taken a couple (game-winning shots), but I have not made any of them, it was the first one I made and it was a big game.”

Beating Murray State in Murray, Ky. is a tough feat. Murray is the defending Ohio Valley Champion and this season it has a 7-2 record at home, which makes Granger’s and Eastern’s feat all the more impressive.

Granger has stepped-up his performance in his junior season, as he is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists.

He attributes his performance boost to his hard work in the off-season. He said head coach Mike Miller helped him tremendously by working on his jump shot and improving his overall game. He said his teammates continually push him in practice to get better.

“(Granger) has played well for us, he is scoring more and we are asking him to do so much,” Miller said.

Granger said he loves being the ball handler in critical situations and wants to be the one who takes the final shot.

“You make some and you miss some, you just have to want it,” Granger said.

When senior guard Tyler Laser injured his back and when it was diagnosed that he will miss the rest of the season, Granger said the team started working harder to make up for what they are missing in Laser.

“You always have to step up your game when you are missing a player like Tyler. I have to improve my leadership out there because (Laser) was such a vocal leader,” Granger said.

Along with averaging career bests in points, rebounds and assists; Granger’s shooting continues to improve. He is one of the best free-throw shooters in the nation at 92 percent and he already has more three-point shots made this season than all of last year.

“Just practice, practice makes perfect,” Granger said of his shooting improvement.

Granger said the team should be successful the rest of the season, even without Laser. He said hard work in practice is the key to the Panthers success.

“We need to work hard defensively, we need to play smart offensively and communicate,” Granger said.

Rob Mortell can be reached at 581-7944 or at rdmortell@eiu.edu.

Jeremy Granger, a junior guard, hit the game winning shot with 3.2 seconds left in the game against Murray State on Jan. 20. (Lauren LaPlante

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