College Basketball

Eastern Illinois pulls away from UT-Martin late, wins 82-74

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:09 p.m. ET

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CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) Demetrius McReynolds scored 27 points and Eastern Illinois pulled out an 82-74 victory in an Ohio Valley Conference battle with Tennessee-Martin Thursday night.

Eastern Illinois held a one-point lead at intermission but it changed hands throughout the second half. Trae Anderson gave the Panthers the lead for good with the first of his three layups in the final five minutes, 72-71. Anderson scored again and Cornell Johnston knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 77-71 with 3:14 remaining and UT Martin was held scoreless over the final 2:49.

Johnston and Anderson finished with 18 and 17 points, respectively for Eastern Illinois (8-13, 5-4). A.J. Riley came off the bench to grab 11 rebounds.

The Panthers forced Tennessee-Martin into 15 turnovers and collected nine steals.

Twymond Howard led the Skyhawks (10-12, 2-5) with 14 points and Javier Martinez contributed another 12.