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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois had a jumper to tie the game with four seconds remaining the game fall just short as the Panthers dropped a 63-61 contest to UC Davis on Thursday night in Lantz Arena.
 
The Panthers dropped to 1-2 on the season and will play at Cincinnati on Sunday in the opening round of the Emerald Coast Classic.   UC Davis, coached by former Bradley star and head coach Jim Les, improved to 2-0.
 
EIU led by three points with 3:42 left to play as Chris Olivier hit a jumper in the lane.   Following a 3-pointer by Josh Ritchart, EIU would go back up by one point on a free throw by Luke Piotrowski with 2:37 left to play.
 
Corey Hawkins answered for UC Davis making a jumper with 1:14 to play.  He would add a pair of free throws with six seconds left in the game to give UC Davis a three point lead.  Cornell Johnston was fouled just over half court on the floor before he could attempt a 3-point shot.  Johnston made both free throws to make it a one point game.
 
Hawkins then made only one of two free throws allowing EIU a chance to either tie or win the game in the final seconds.   The Panthers shot by Dylan Chatman fell just short as time expired.
 
Hawkins led UC Davis with 28 points while Ritchart added 14 points.   The Aggies shot 53 percent in the second half and 50 percent for the game.   They also knocked down 10-of-20 3-pointers with Hawkins making 5-of-7.
 
The Aggies jumped out to the lead in the first half leading by seven points on a Hawkins jumper with 12:12 to play.  The Panthers slowly chipped away at that lead taking a 21-20 advantage on a jumper by Olivier with 7:59 to play in the first.  Olivier was one of four EIU players in double figures finishing with 13 points. 
 
Trae Anderson extended EIU's lead to five at 28-23 with 4:42 to play on a 3-pointer.   The junior college transfer came off the bench to lead EIU with 16 points.   UC Davis closed the half with a tip-in by Hawkins just before the buzzer to lead 34-33.
 
Tyler Les knocked down a pair of three pointers midway through the second half, the second one at 12:08 giving UC Davis a 48-38 lead.  The Panthers would drive the ball down low getting to the foul line and cutting the lead to four points.  Dylan Chatman's 3-pointer cut the lead to one with 8:57 to play and Johnston put EIU up 51-50 on a jumper with 8:40.  A Johnston 3-pointer with 6:17 to go gave EIU its biggest lead at 56-52 with 6:17 to play.
 
Johnston had ten points and seven assists.  Chatman had 15 points hitting 3-of-4 from 3-point range.