Red-shirt sophomore James Hollowell now ranks fourth on Eastern’s career blocks list.

Hollowell recorded 36 blocks this season, which gives him 72 for his career. The 36 blocks were good enough for a tie for fifth on Eastern’s single-season blocks list. He tied himself for the honor.

Kevin Duckworth currently holds Eastern record for career blocks with 123; however, if Hollowell continues at this pace, he will easily break Duckworth’s record.

Hollwell needs just two more blocks to move into third all-time.

He finished a strong sophomore campaign averaging career bests in points, rebounds and assists. He scored 8.4 points, grabbed 5.6 rebounds and dished out 1.7 assists.

Granger just misses record

Junior guard Jeremy Granger fell short of setting the Eastern single season free throw percentage record. He finished the year shooting 90.4 percent. Julio Anthony holds the record at 91.5 percent.

With two games left in the season, Granger was shooting 92.2 percent, but over the last two games he went 8-11 from the foul line to fall to 90.4 percent and just missed setting the record.

Granger is still on pace to break the career free throw shooting percentage mark held by Gary Yoder at 86.1 percent. Granger is currently shooting 87.4 percent for his career.

Around the OVC

The OVC tournament field is set, with Murray State winning the regular season title for the second consecutive year.

The Racers finished the season with a 14-4 record in conference play, which was good enough for the No. 1 seed in the tournament and a two-round bye.

Morehead State was able to grab the No. 2 seed with a 13-5 record. Morehead State had the same record as Austin Peay, but held the individual tiebreaker, giving the Governors the No. 3 seed.

Tennessee Tech earned the No. 4 seed with a 12-6 record in conference play, while Tennessee State was given the No. 5 seed after posting a 10-8 record.

Eastern Kentucky was award the No. 6 seed with a 9-9 record and Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee-Martin earned the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds respectively, both posting 6-12 records.

The OVC tournament is set up differently than most eight-team brackets, with the No. 5 seed and No. 8 seed will play on Wednesday, along with the No. 6 seed and the No. 7 seed. The winner of 5-8 game will play the No. 4 seed, while the winner of the 6-7 game will play the No. 3 seed.

The winner of the game against the No. 4 team will play the No. 1 seed, while the other winner takes on the No. 2 seed. The winners of those games will then face off in the championship game, which will be shown on ESPN 2 on March 5 at 7 p.m.

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

Jeremy Granger, a junior guard, takes the ball up court against Murray State Feb. 7 in Lantz Arena. (Audrey Sawyer

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