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MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois (2-2) broke open a four point contest with a 22-7 run over the remaining seven minutes of the game to defeat Eastern Illinois, 75-57.
EIU drops to 1-2 on the season and will play at Arkansas State on Saturday night in the second game of a five-game road swing.
The Panthers fell behind 6-0 to open the game but battled back and forth to take their first lead at 19-18 with 8:34 to go on a Gino Myers-Kyles free throw.
The Panthers would close out the half with a 31-30 lead as Romain Martin scored 13 of his team-high 16 points the first twenty minutes. EIU would hit six first half 3-pointers while WIU went 0-for-2 from beyond the arc.
The second half proved to be a different story as Nikola Bodic drained a series of three 3-pointers which helped the Leathernecks pull within 38-37 at the 16:15 mark. Bodic finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
WIU extended its lead to 50-42 on a 13-4 run. Mike Robinson helped the Panthers climb back to within two points hitting the second of two lay-ups at the 8:13 mark to bring EIU to within 52-50.
Martin would hit a 3-pointer for EIU with 6:08 left to keep EIU in striking distance at 56-53. Bodic would answer to spark a final WIU run that handed the Leathernecks their 76th win in the series. EIU has won 75.
Bobby Catchings added 14 for EIU while Ousmane Cisse was the EIU leader with five rebounds. Robison passed out six assists.
WIU was led by David Jackson with 14 as five Leathernecks hit double digits. David DuBois has eight rebounds.
