Coming off a two game winning streak, the Panthers smell blood and will continue to attack.

“We’re looking to win three in a row for the first time this year,” head coach Rick Samuels said. “I hope we can continue to play with renewed energy and excitement.”

The Panthers play the Tigers at 7 p.m Thursday at Tennessee State.

When Eastern played the Tigers at home on Jan. 17, the panthers lost the game much because freshman guard, Bruce Price took over the last five minutes of the game.

“Price carried them last time,” Samuels said. At home against Tennessee State, the Panthers found themselves ahead by 12 with less than six minutes to play, when the Tigers went on a 19-7 run to tie the game with 1:21 left to play.

Price’s layup with 50 seconds remaining, sealed the come from behind 60-59 Tiger victory.

Price is not the only player on the Tigers Samuels believes can hurt them.

“That team shoots a lot of threes,” Samuels said. “If someone gets hot, they’re dangerous.”

Samuels also mentioned Roshaun Bowens has played well this season, and the Panthers will have to keep an eye on him.

The Panthers are playing much better basketball and are coming off their first road win of the season at Southeast Missouri.

Jesse Mackinson led the team with 29 points and shot the ball better than he has all season, tying a school record for consecutive field goals (10).

“Before Tuesday’s game, Jesse was rushing his shots; now he’s in a rhythm,” Samuels said. “If he can remain in that rhythm, he’s going to make a lot of jump shots.”

Samuels said his team was more excited after Tuesday’s game at SEMO, than it was after winning in overtime at home against Tennessee Martin.

“Perhaps that’s reflective of the fact we played well two games in a row,” Samuels said. “Everybody played well. Dildy hit a big three pointer, Forte had a key basket. It was a good team effort.”

Aaron Patterson caught his tooth on the net in last Saturday’s game and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to go Tuesday against SEMO.

“The first play of the game we went inside to Patterson,” Samuels said. “We did that for two reasons. One, we wanted to be sure there was no hesitancy with AP. Two, we wanted to get to the free throw line, or get a basket. We got the basket.”

The Panthers will need more of the same to take down the Tigers on their home court Thursday night.

Samuels believes his rotations are working right now and his kids feel comfortable with one another.

“We want to be assertive offensively and pay attention to detail on defense,” Samuels said. “We’ve had great flow offensively, and our kids our playing well with one another.”