PDF Box  |  HTML Box 

Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Ta'Kenya Nixon scored a game-high 24 points to lead Eastern Illinois over Jacksonville State, 77-61, on Saturday afternoon at Lantz Arena.

The Panthers (10-11, 6-5 OVC) never trailed in the contest and had a double-digit lead through the final 30 minutes of the game. EIU led by as much as 20 (38-18) with 1:50 left in the first half before the Gamecocks (8-14, 5-6 OVC) got within 16 in the closing minutes to cut their deficit to 38-22 heading into intermission.

EIU opened the second half on an 18-7 run to take its largest lead of the game, 56-31, with 12:32 left in the contest. JSU got within 13 (74-61) at the 1:59 mark, but Jordyne Crunk hit the Panthers lone three-pointer with 50 second left on the clock to give EIU the 77-61 victory.

Sydney Mitchell scored a career-high 18 points while Mariah King and Chantelle Pressley both added 10 points.

Mitchell also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Nixon had a game-high five assists.

King and Pressley both had six rebounds. A total of nine different Panthers recorded a rebound in the contest.

EIU was 22-for-25 from the charity stripe, paced by Nixon's perfect 10-for-10 outing from the line.

Danielle Vaugh led JSU with a double-double, scoring a team-high 19 points and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds.

EIU returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. against SIU Edwardsville.