Eastern’s men’s basketball team is about to start the most important part of its schedule this week with its final two Ohio Valley Conference games of the season.

The Panthers must win their next two games against Austin Peay and Tennessee State if they are going to have any hopes of making the tournament.

They also need the University of Tennessee-Martin to lose its final two OVC games. UT Martin plays Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State at home. Martin lost to both teams on the road earlier this season; however, it has a record of 6-6 at home this season.

Eastern lost at home to Austin Peay 77-73 in overtime earlier this season and it beat Tennessee State at home 68-67; however, the Panthers are just 4-9 on the road this season while Austin Peay and Tennessee State have lost a total of five games at home.

Granger on pace to break school record

Junior guard Jeremy Granger vaulted his already stellar free throw percentage up from 91.1 percent to 92.2 percent after going 13-13 from the foul line against Toledo.

If Granger keeps this average up for the remained of the season he will set the record for best free-throw percentage in a single season in Eastern history. The current mark is held by Julio Anthony at 91.5 percent.

Also, Granger is on pace to set Eastern’s record for career free throw percentage. Granger is an 88 percent free throw shooter for his career, Eastern’s record is currently held by Gary Yoder (1970-72) at 86.1 percent.

Around the OVC

Morehead State forward Kenneth Faried has set the modern record for career rebounds as he past former Wake Forest standout Tim Duncan.

Faried past Duncan with his seventh rebound against Indiana State giving him 1,571 career rebounds. On the all-time rebounding leader board Faried ranks 14th.

He recorded five more rebounds against Indiana State giving him a total of 1,576 for his for year career at Morehead. He currently leads the nation in rebounding at 14.3 per game.

OVC teams went 6-4 in ESPNU’s Bracketbuster event. The losing teams were Austin Peay to Fairfield 76-69, Eastern Kentucky to Western Carolina 81-74, UT Martin to Bradley 81-75 and Jacksonville State to Eastern Michigan.

Winning their games were Morehead State beating Indiana State 71-65, Tennessee State beating Delaware State 78-63, Murray State defeating Evansville 72-47, Tennessee Tech beating Gardner-Webb 60-58 and Southeast Missouri defeating Sacramento State 67-52.

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

Matt Dorlack, a senior forward, goes up for a shot against Tennessee Martin Feb. 15 in Lantz Arena. (Audrey Sawyer

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