The Panthers let a critical game against Tennessee- Martin get away from them in the opening minutes, resulting in what is potentially the end of Eastern’s Ohio Valley Conference tournament run.

The Skyhawks took the lead early in the game and never looked back, going up 20-4 just over five minutes into the first half.

The Panthers were outperformed by the Skyhawks in almost every statistical category during the 73-54 game at Lantz Arena. The Panthers shot only 35.1 percent during the entire game, compared to the Skyhawks 49 percent.

The Skyhawks dominated the Panthers from the three point and free throw line as well, making 40 percent of their three pointers and 95 percent of their free throws. The Panthers made only six of 15 three pointers and shot only 70 percent from the foul line.

Eastern was unable to contain freshman guard Mike Liabo, who led the team with 21 points. The Skyhawks’ leading scorer on the season, senior forward Benzor Simmons, scored only six points off of the bench.

For the Panthers, junior guard Jeremy Granger led all Eastern players with 16 points. Granger also led the team in minutes, playing for 39 minutes.

Granger was 5-14 from the field, while only 1-7 from the three-point line. Granger was perfect from the free throw line, making all five of his attempts.

The team was very disappointed in the loss, which greatly slims its chances of making the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

Senior guard Curry McKinney talked about how important the game was to the team, especially on senior night.

“This was our whole season. It’s a far reach for the tournament now,” McKinney said.

McKinney said the defense did not help by giving the Skyhawks many easy, uncontested shots.

McKinney was one of three seniors honored at the beginning of the game, including Matt Dorlack and Tyler Laser.

McKinney finished the game with 13 points and two rebounds, while Dorlack had two points and three rebounds.

Laser was the only senior not to play, as he suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the year.

This loss marks the eighth straight for the Panthers, who now have three games remaining on their schedule.

Head coach Mike Miller said that the Skyhawks wide variety of players with scoring ability was a key factor in the team’s loss.

“Sometimes (Tennessee- Martin) gets five guys to score, and it really makes a difference,” Miller said.

Miller said this game was just as important as any other game on the team’s schedule. Miller also said that the team needed a good showing in this game.

“This group needed to play well. We got behind and couldn’t make plays,” Miller said.

Miller said the team needed to play with an identity, which it did not do, and that the team needs to find a way to play better.

The Panthers have three games remaining on their regular season schedule, with the next being against Toledo in the ESPN Brackbuster.

The Panthers will play at 6 p.m. Saturday in Toledo.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu

Nick McFarlin, a red-shirt junior forward, shoots a free throw against UT Martin Tuesday night in Lantz Arena. The Panthers lost to the Skyhawks 54-73. (Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

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