Eastern Illinois Panthers @ Tennessee State Tigers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EIU | 19 | 28 | 47 | ||
TNST | 19 | 31 | 50 |
Mekowulu lifts Tennessee State past Eastern Illinois 50-47
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Christian Mekowulu scored a career-high 27 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to lift Tennessee State to a 50-47 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday night.
In a tight game where neither team led by more than five points, Tennessee State (10-11, 5-5 Ohio Valley Conference) got a pair of free throws followed by a 3-point play from Mekowulu to edge back on top 49-45 with 47 seconds remaining.
Montell Goodwin sliced the deficit back to two on a jumper at the other end before Mekowulu dropped in another free throw with seven seconds left and Ray Crossland missed a potentially game-tying 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer.
Mekowulu finished 8 of 14 from the field and missed just four of his 15 free throws to secure the season sweep over Eastern Illinois.
Eastern Illinois (7-14, 3-7) shot just 29 percent from the field. Mack Smith, who was just 3-of-12 shooting, scored 17 points and made all 11 of his free throws.
Game Information
Nashville, TN
Referee:Scott Johnson
Referee:Bobby Daw
Referee:Eric Mims
2025-26 Standings
| Ohio Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 15-5 | - | 23-10 |
| Morehead State | 15-5 | - | 20-13 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 14-6 | 1 | 20-13 |
| UT Martin | 13-7 | 2 | 22-11 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 12-8 | 3 | 19-13 |
| Lindenwood | 11-9 | 4 | 18-15 |
| Little Rock | 9-11 | 6 | 12-20 |
| Tennessee Tech | 8-12 | 7 | 13-18 |
| Eastern Illinois | 8-12 | 7 | 13-20 |
| Southern Indiana | 4-16 | 11 | 7-23 |
| Western Illinois | 1-19 | 14 | 5-26 |
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