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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Meeting for the first time since 1948, Eureka College was able to hang tough with Eastern Illinois for the first 17 minutes before the Panthers (2-1) were able to pull away for a 93-64 win on Saturday night at Lantz Arena.

The Red Devils (1-1) opened game red hot from 3-point range as they hit 5-of-6 3-pointers to open the game as they built a 18-14 lead at the 13:51 mark of the first half. Andy Lepperd knocked down two of the long range shots finishing with 13 points.

Lepperd would give Eureka College a 30-26 lead with 6:44 left in the half before EIU closed the first half with a 19-2 run as Shaun Pratl was active in the paint scoring eight first half points and pulling down five rebounds. EIU would build a 45-32 halftime margin after hitting 57 percent from the field while Eureka College cooled down to a 40 percent clip.

EIU quickly built the lead up to 26 points at the halfway point of the second half as Jay Smith hit three 3-pointers to score a career high 16 points. Smith was 6-of-8 from the floor including 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

The Panthers were able to play all twelve players on the roster as four players finished in double figures. Tyler Laser led EIU with 23 points hitting 10-of-13 from the field. Pratl and Curry McKinney each had ten while Pratl also pulled down a team high seven rebounds. EIU shot 59 percent for the game.

Eureka College was led by Michael Zasada with 22 points with Kameron Bell adding 14. The Red Devils were 10-of-24 from 3-point range and were beat on the glass by a 37-24 margin.

EIU returns to action on Tuesday at Chicago State.