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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Four Eastern Illinois players reached double figures on Thursday night as the Panthers won their second straight with a 72-67 win at Jacksonville State.

 

The Panthers improved to 4-17 overall, 3-10 in the OVC.  JSU drops to 4-18, 2-12 in the OVC.

 

Julio Anthony led the Panthers with 17 points scoring most of those in the second half.  Anthony scored six of EIU's first eight points in the second half as the Panthers built a ten point lead. 

 

JSU closed to within one point with 2:02 left in the game as Jeremy Bynum made a lay-up.  Ousmane Cisse would get a put back basket for the Panthers with 1:31 left and Anthony knocked down a pair of free throws to help the Panthers ice the game.

 

The Panthers were able to build a 33-31 halftime lead with a balanced scoring attack as seven EIU players scored with Jake Byrne and Tyler Laser each added eight points.  The Panthers also had nine offensive rebounds which led to 16 second chance points.

 

J.J. Wesley's 3-point shooting allowed the Gamecocks to keep pace as Wesley was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc in the opening half scoring 14 points.

 

Laser finished with 14 points, Byrne 12 and Bobby Catchings 13 to give EIU four players in double figures.  Jon'Tee Willhite pulled down 9 rebounds.  EIU outscored JSU 32-20 in the paint and 26-14 in second chance points.

 

JSU was led by Wesley with 16 points and Will Ginn with 13.  The Gamecocks hit 10 3-pointers on 24 total attempts.

 

Eastern Illinois continues its two game Alabama swing on Saturday night with a 7 p.m. contest at Samford.  This will be EIU's final visit to the Birmingham based school as the Bulldogs will exit to the Southern Conference next season.