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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Five Eastern Illinois players scored in double figures as the Panthers shook up the Ohio Valley Conference race with a 90-70 win at Southeast Missouri. 

 

EIU improved to 5-20, 4-13 in the OVC while SEMO fell to 12-15, 7-10 in the OVC as the Redhawks lost their 10th game in the last 11 contests.

 

After leading by 11 at the half, 43-32, Eastern Illinois withstood an early SEMO run that cut the Panthers lead to 45-20 as Kenard Moore knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, the last coming at the 18:28 mark.

 

Gino Myers-Kyles helped the Panthers push the lead back to double digits as he had back-to-back lay-ups during a 6-0 run that gave EIU a 61-49 with 11:09 remaining.  Myers-Kyles finished with a career high 15 points as EIU scored 32 bench points.

 

Michael Rembert converted a pair of free throws for SEMO on the next possession but the Redhawks would get no closer as EIU led by as many as 21 points with five minutes remaining. 

 

EIU was balanced on scoring all night as Jake Byrne led the Panthers with 18 points.  Bobby Catchings added 17 while Julio Anthony had 15.  Tyler Laser also added 12 hitting 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

 

Southeast Missouri jumped on top in the first three and a half minutes building a 9-4 lead on a pair of Calvin Williams free throws.  Moore would knock down three long 3-pointers to lead the Redhawks with nine first half points.  Moore finished the game with 18.

 

Byrne and Catchings helped the Panthers rally with Catchings knocking down a pair of free throws while Byrne converted an old fashion three point play to tie the game at 9-9 with 15:17 to go in the first.

 

The Panthers slowly pulled away building a six point lead on a Jon'Tee Willhite lay-up at the 9:20 mark.  Catchings scored back-to-back baskets, the second coming at 3:12 to put EIU up 36-26.  Catchings final bucket of the half put the Panthers up 43-30.  Catchings had 13 first half points while Byrne had 9.

 

Roderick Pearson also hit double figures for SEMO with 10 points.  EIU won the battle on the boards with a 38-29 advantage.  EIU finished the game shooting 61 percent while the Panther defense limited SEMO to just 33 percent from the field. 

 

Eastern Illinois will play its final road game of the season on Saturday night when the Panthers visit Murray State.  EIU knocked off the Racers in overtime during the first meeting of the season.