E. Illinois 66, Tennessee St. 61

Published Feb. 28, 2010 3:17 a.m. ET

foxsports

Jeremy Granger scored 11 points to lead a balanced Eastern Illinois team past Tennessee State 66-61 Saturday night.

Six players scored between seven and 11 points for the Panthers (18-11, 11-7), who scored the game's last five points to win their seventh in a row. They clinched a tie for third in the Ohio Valley Conference, and a first-round home game in the postseason tournament that begins Tuesday.

James Hollowell had eight points, including the go-ahead basket, and 11 rebounds for Eastern Illinois.

Jacquan Nobles had 19 points and Robert Covington 18 points and eight rebounds for Tennessee State (9-22, 6-12), which saw its five-game OVC winning streak end. The Tigers rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half to tie it at 61.