Box Score

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FORT WAYNE, Ind.  – IPFW had four players score in double figures and drained 13 three pointers to defeat the Panther men's basketball team, 86-65, on Saturday afternoon at the Gates Sports Center. EIU drops to 3-8 on the year.
 
The Mastodons (10-4) went 10-for-15 from behind the arc in the first half to build a 54-39 advantage at halftime. IPFW finished the contest going 13-for-23 from three-point range as six different players made a three pointer. All told, the Mastodons hit 62.5 percent of their field-goal attempts in the first half (20-for-32) and finished the contest going 29-for-53 from the floor.
 
IPFW had its first double-figure lead, 21-11, at the 13:26 mark in the first half before EIU went on a 13-10 run to get within seven (31-24) with just over eight minutes left on the clock. IPFW responded by scoring five unanswered points to regain a double figure advantage they would never relinquish.
 
The Mastodons started the second half on an 11-2 run to take a 65-41 advantage with 16:42 left in the contest. IPFW led by as many as 25 points in the second half.
 
Four Panthers scored in double figures led by Alex Austin's 16 points. The sophomore guard went 5-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the foul line. Sherman Blanford added 12 points while Chris Olivier and Reggie Smith added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Dennis Green chipped in five points and team-high four assists.
 
EIU hit 40.2 percent of its shot attempts (25-for-62) in the loss and went 9-for-11 from foul line. IPFW went 15-for-24 from the charity stripe.
 
IPFW held a 37-30 advantage on the glass as Steve Forbes, Mo Evans and Luis Jacobo all had six rebounds to lead the Mastodons. Blanford and Josh Piper both had five rebounds to lead the Panthers on the glass.
 
Forbes led IPFW with a game-high 20 points as the junior forward went 6-for-8 from the floor and 8-for-8 from the foul line. Jacobo added 18 points and Isaiah McCray chipped in 15 points and four assists.
 
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, Dec. 28 in their Ohio Valley Conference opener against Tennessee State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Lantz Arena.