Eastern’s men’s basketball team ended its eight-game losing streak with a win over Toledo in ESPNU’s Bracketbuster event.

The game came down to the Panther’s ability to get to the foul line and knock down free throws. They made 20-of-22 attempts, while Toledo shot 16 free throws the entire game and only made 11. Junior guard Jeremy Granger showed why he is one of the best free throw shooters in the country. He was driving to the basket all game long, causing the Toledo defenders to foul him and he capitalized on the defensive mistakes, making all 13 of his shots from the charity stripe.

Granger finished the game with 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assist and three steals as he led Eastern to a 75-58 victory. Senior guard Curry McKinney had a good game as well, finishing with 17 points and four rebounds.

The win improves the Panthers record to 9-18, while Toledo falls to 4-23 on the season.

The Panthers dominated the game in almost every statistical category. They were able to control the game with stifling defense. They held Toledo to 39.6 percent shooting for the game and forced Toledo to commit 11 turnovers.

Toledo’s poor shooting enabled the Panthers to grab a majority of the missed shots. They out-rebounded Toledo 36-22, they also grabbed 10 offensive rebounds which led to 10 second-chance points.

Eastern’s frontline performed well, scoring 30 points in the paint. Red-shirt sophomore forward James Hollowell and sophomore forward Shaun Pratl scored 11 points each and both added four rebounds.

This performance should give the Panthers some much needed confidence as they head into the most important part of the schedule this season.

At 4-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern is currently ninth in the standings, which puts them out of the conference tournament. The Panthers need to win their next two games on the road against Austin Peay and Tennessee State. They also need the University of Tennessee at Martin to lose their next two OVC games as Martin currently holds the series tie-breaker against Eastern.

The Panthers return to action Feb.24 at Austin Peay for a critical OVC match-up that could potentially cost the team a tournament birth.

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

James Hollowell, a red-shirt sophomore forward, decides which way he wants to go around Tennessee Martin’s Benzor Simmons Feb. 15 in Lantz Arena. The Panthers beat Toledo 75-58 Saturday at Toledo, Ohio. (Audrey Sawyer

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