Joshua Jones scored 12 points and Mike Dinunno added 11, two of only three players in the game to score in double figures, and Eastern Kentucky staved off Eastern Illinois 47-43.
Eastern Kentucky (13-11, 6-5 OVC) had its maximum seven-point second half lead cut to 46-43 after a deep 3-pointer by Jeremy Granger with eight seconds remaining. Eastern Illinois (9-13, 2-8) fouled and after Jaron Jones split a pair of free throws, Granger missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer as time expired.
Granger finished with 12 points for an Eastern Illinois team that turned the ball over 17 times.
The Panthers led 28-20 after Granger drained a 3-pointer at the second half's 15:00 mark, but Eastern Kentucky surged for the permanent lead, 34-33, on a Joshua Jones layup four minutes later. Eastern Kentucky methodically built an advantage that peaked at seven points before the Panthers began to chisel at the deficit.
