CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) Sherman Blanford scored a career-high 30 points Thursday, 23 in the second half, and Eastern Illinois rallied to beat UT-Martin 91-79, handing the Skyhawks their third-straight loss.
Dylan Chatman scored 17, Josh Piper and Alex Austin had 11 each, and Eastern Illinois (9-14, 6-5 Ohio Valley) avenged a Jan. 23, 84-77 loss to UT-Martin.
UT-Martin (7-18, 2-8) led 18-16 on a jumper by Terence Smith, then pulled ahead on a 10-1 run. Aaron Siler's trey made it a two-point game, but UT-Martin's Smith and Marshun Newell hit two 3-pointers apiece and the Skyhawks led 47-37 at halftime.
Blanford's jumper opened a 13-4 second-half run and the Panthers took a 59-57 lead on a 3-pointer by Piper, then pulled away on a 14-0 run and cruised. The Panthers shot 56.4 percent to the Skyhawks' 46.9 percent.
Myles Taylor led UT-Martin with 17, Smith had 14, Newell 12, and Dee Oldham 10.
