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CHARLESTON, Ill. – After playing well for three straight games over the weekend at the ICE Man Classic in Ypsilanti, Mich., Eastern Illinois shooting was cold on the day prior to Thanksgiving as the Panthers (2-4) fell to Rochester College, 59-56, on Wednesday afternoon at Lantz Arena.

EIU shot 37 percent for the game from the floor and only 47 percent from the free throw line.  Three Panthers finished in double figures with Sherman Blanford just missing a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Rochester College held a 29-25 lead at the half due in large part to the Warriors work on the glass.  RC had a 20-12 first half rebounding margin including seven offensive boards.  The Warriors also forced nine EIU turnovers as they took the lead with 4:58 left in the first half on a Dramell Hogan jumper.  A lay-up by Hogan with 24 seconds left extended the lead to 29-22 before Malcolm Herron closed the half for EIU with a 3-pointer.

EIU committed only three second half turnovers but was unable to take advantage of getting into the bonus midway through the first half.  The Panthers were 8-of-16 from the stripe in the second half.

Hogan hit a jumper on the baseline with 18:54 to play giving RC a 34-25 lead.  He was one of two players to score 17 points for the Warriors.  Stavros Schizas also had 17 hitting 3-of-4 from 3-point range. 

EIU chipped away at the lead and tied the contest at 8:45 with a pair of Morris Woods free throws at 43-43.  Josh Piper drained a 3-pointer with 5:38 to knot the game at 50-50.  The final tie of the game came on a pair of free throws by Blanford with 2:55 left at 52-52.  EIU was never able to gain the lead in the second half.

RC held a two-point lead with ten seconds left after Woods hit a lay-up.  The Panthers nearly stole two inbounds passes before fouling Hogan.  After Hogan hit one of two from the line, Piper missed a 3-pointer for the Panthers as the buzzer sounded.

Woods had 11 points and Piper ten for EIU.  Drew Maynard had a double-double for RC with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

EIU returns to action on Saturday afternoon hosting Houston Baptist at 2 p.m.  Due to conflicts with the EIU football FCS playoff game, the basketball game will not be carried on radio.  Fans may watch free live video streaming with added audio by visiting the OVC Digital Network   www.ovcdigitalnetwork