Box Score

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Eastern Illinois men's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start on Wednesday night, dropping an 83-55 contest at Purdue in front of 12,141 fans at Mackey Arena. EIU falls to 2-2 on the year.

The Boilermakers (4-0) started the game on a 12-0 run before Josh Piper hit a three pointer at the 13:16 mark to end the Panthers 0-for-10 drought from the floor to begin the contest. Sherman Blanford made the score 12-5 on the next Panther possession to get EIU within seven.

Purdue led by as many as 16 points (27-11) with 6:21 left in the half before EIU went on a 7-1 run to get within 10 with three and a half minutes on the clock. The Boilermakers outscored the Panthers 10-6 in the closing minutes for a 38-24 halftime lead.

The Boilermakers opened the second stanza on a 9-3 run on 3-for-4 shooting to take a 47-27 lead. Purdue led by as much as 31 points (83-52) in the closing minutes of the game.

Reggie Smith led the Panthers with 11 points while Blanford added nine points and a game-high eight rebounds. Purdue finished the contest with four more rebounds than EIU (43-39).

EIU went 19-for-58 from the floor and 14-for-24 from the foul line on the night while Purdue hit 45.9 percent of its shot attempts (28-for-61). The Boilermakers also went 23-for-34 from the foul line.

Bryson Scott led four Boilermakers who scored in double figures with a game-high 14 points. Ronnie Johnson added 10 points and a game-high eight assists while Kendal Stephens and Basil Smotherman added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Purdue scored 31 points off of 19 Panther miscues while EIU added 11 points off of turners. The Panthers also had nine fewer bench points (42-33) on the night.

The Panthers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 23 against Roosevelt University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Lantz Arena.