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NICEVILLE, Fla. – Eastern Illinois held Southern University without a field goal for the first 11:10 of the game as the Panthers picked up a 54-43 win in the final game of the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday afternoon.
EIU improved to 2-5 and will host Ball State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Lantz Arena.  Southern University dropped to 1-6.
Josh Piper hit a 3-pointer to open the game with Southern hitting one of two at the free throw line.   EIU would go on a 21-0 run until the Jaguars knocked down their first field goal at the 11:10 mark.
EIU shot 58 percent in the game including 8-of-15 from 3-point range.  Piper had nine points knocking down three 3-pointers. Â
Dylan Chatman was 2-of-3 from 3-point range finishing with 11 points.
The Panthers led 32-14 at the half.
EIU turned the ball over four times to open the second but settled down as
Trae Anderson led all players with 16 points for EIU.   Jared Sam had 13 points for Southern as they shot 32 percent for the game.
SU closed to nine points in the final 2:30 as Sam hit a lay-up making it 48-39 EIU. Â
Reggie Smith answered with a lay-up only to see Sam go to the free throw line to make it a nine point game with 1:32 to play.  Smith closed the game for EIU with a 3-pointer.Â
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