HTML Box  |  PDF Box

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Eastern Illinois converted sixteen Southeast Missouri turnovers into 24 points as the Panthers moved back over the .500 mark for the season with a 75-49 win over the Redhawks on Saturday night at the Show-Me Center.

EIU improved to 12-11 overall, 6-7 in the OVC as they moved back into a tie for fifth place in the conference standings. SEMO fell to 7-16 overall, 3-9 in the OVC.

The opening 16 minutes of action were back-and-forth as the two teams traded the lead and had four ties. The final tie came at the 5:54 mark of the first half as JuJuan Maxwell knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game at 21-21.

EIU would answer with a James Hollowell jumper and Tyler Laser 3-pointer as the Panthers put together an 11-1 run over the next three minutes to break open the game. Hollowell would finish with ten points all coming in the first half as EIU dominated scoring in the paint by a 36-18 margin.

Jeremy Granger extended the Panthers halftime lead to 37-25 as he converted a three point play with 46 seconds left in the half. Granger would lead all scorers with 19 points in the game hitting on 9-of-15 from the field as EIU finished the night hitting 51 percent from the field.

SEMO would not challenge in the second half as the Redhawks were limited to just 36 percent shooting for the game. Sam Pearson was SEMO's top point man with 11.

EIU used its advantage on the glass to finish with a 37-29 rebound advantage. Ousmane Cisse pulled down six rebounds in the contest as he moved into fifth place on the Panthers career rebounding list.

The Panthers will host Morehead State on Thursday night at 8 p.m. in Lantz Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.