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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Eastern Illinois had a scoring drought of more than eight minutes in the second half as the Panthers lost 64-53 on Friday night in the season opener at Missouri State.   EIU returns to action on Monday night hosting Eureka College at 7 p.m. in the home opener at Lantz Arena.

EIU held the lead until 6:35 left in the game when Christian Kirk gave the Bears their first lead with a bank shot that capped a 10-0 run putting MSU up 50-49.   Reggie Smith put EIU back in front momentarily with a pair of free throws.

Missouri State answered with the man who carried them all night as Marcus Marshall hit a 3-pointer as he finished with 38 points.   Marshall was 12-of-16 from the field and 6-of-7 from 3-point range. 

EIU opened the game shooting 54 percent through the first two media time out as the Panthers jumped out a 14-5 lead with 11:40 play.   Chris Olivier was a big part of the Panthers good start scoring 14 first half points hitting 7-of-9.  Oliver would finish with 16.

The Panthers defense was solid until the 3:49 mark of the first half as they had limited Missouri State to 26 percent shooting.   Marshall then caught fire scoring 12 straight Bears points to cut EIU's lead to 29-27 at the half.  Marshall had 18 first half points. 

The Bears scored on their first three possessions of the second half and cut the lead to one point.  Josh Piper hit his second 3-pointer of the second half to respond as EIU pushed the lead back to 42-35 with 15:04 left in the game. 

A Marshall 3-pointer brought the lead back to four at 44-40.   Dylan Chatman answered with a 3-pointer and Trae Anderson had a driving lay-up to give EIU a 49-40 lead with 11:11 to play.

Marshall continued to keep Missouri State in the second half as the guard's 3-pointer with 8:42 cut the Panthers lead to 49-46.  Austin Ruder's jumper in the lane with 7:31 once again cut the lead to one point with EIU in front 49-48.

EIU shot 39 in the second half and finished shooting 41 for the game.   MSU was red hot in the second half shooting over 60 percent for most of the half as they finished the night shooting 47 from the field.

Piper had six points as did Smith, Cornell Johnston and Trae Anderson for EIU.  Kirk added eight for Missouri State.