EIU used an 11-2 run in overtime and a career-high 40 points from Josh Gomes to beat UTM 83-79 in overtime Saturday night in Charleston, Ill.

With the loss the Skyhawk men fall to 3-7 in Ohio Valley Conference basketball action. The Skyhawks are 8-14 overall.

Eastern Illinois improves to 2-8 in the OVC and 4-16 overall.

The Skyhawks continue their four-game swing this week when they travel to Austin Peay Thursday, Feb. 12 and Tennessee Tech, Saturday, Feb. 14. Tipoff for both games is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Skyhawks jumped out to a 41-36 lead at the half against the host Panthers, despite 23 first-half points from Gomes. Sophomore Jared Newson and junior Jeremy Kelly led the Skyhawks with 10 first-half points each.

In the second half, the game went back and forth. The score was tied eight times.

Freshman Will Lewis tied the score at 67-67 for the Skyhawks with 24 seconds left in regulation.

Gomes missed a jumper with 13 seconds to play and Tyler George came away with the rebound for the Skyhawks.

With eight seconds left the Skyhawks turned the ball over, and EIU's Emanuel Dildy missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to force the overtime period.

The Skyhawks scored first in the five-minute overtime period, but EIU went on an 11-2 run to seal the victory.

Kelly finished the game with 26 points for the Skyhawks, while Newson finished with 15 points. Kenan Asceric tossed in 10 points to round out the Skyhawk double-digit scoring.

Jesse Mackinson was the only other EIU player to score in double-digits. He finished with 18 points, 16 of those were either in the second half or in the overtime period.