Box Score

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – The Panther men's basketball team dropped an 82-63 contest at Belmont on Thursday night at the Curb Event Center. EIU falls to 9-18 overall and 6-9 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
Belmont hit its first five three pointers of the game, taking a 17-9 advantage over the Panthers at the 13:40 mark. Reggie Smith hit back-to-back three pointers on the Panthers next two offensive possessions to get EIU within two (17-15). EIU never trailed by more than eight points for the rest of the first half and trailed 37-31 at intermission.
 
Belmont opened the second half on a 5-1 run to take its first double-figure lead of the contest, 42-32, on a JJ Mann fast break layup at the 18:27 mark. The Bruins never trailed in the game as the Panthers could only get within eight, 60-52, with 11:08 left in the contest. Belmont led by as many as 20 (75-55) as late as the 6:56 mark as they improved to 21-8 on the year and 12-2 in OVC play with the win.
 
Sherman Blanford led three Panthers in double figures with 15 points while Chris Olivier added 13 points and Smith chipped in 12 points. Blanford also led EIU with three assists.
 
EIU held a 33-31 advantage on the glass, paced by Blanford's game-high 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year. Oliver also had six rebounds for the Panthers to go along with five blocks. Craig Bradshaw and Mann led the Bruins with seven rebounds each.
 
EIU went 24-for-59 from the floor and 4-for-15 from behind the arc. The Panthers also hit 50 percent of their free throws (11-for-21) while the Bruins went 9-for-12 from the charity stripe.
 
Belmont also hit 57.7 percent (30-for-52) of its shot attempts and went 13-for-25 from behind the arc. Mann led the Bruins with 21 points while Bradshaw added 20 points. Drew Windler and Blake Jenkins rounded out the double-figure scorers with 16 points and 15 points, respectively.
 
The Panthers return to action on Monday, Feb. 24 as they play host to Chicago State at 7 p.m. in their final non-conference game of the year. Monday's game will serve as 'Senior Day' for the Panthers lone senior, Sherman Blanford.