Box Score

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Sherman Blanford posted his eighth double-double of the year on Monday night, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lift the Panther men's basketball team to an 84-62 non-conference win over Chicago State inside Lantz Arena. EIU improves to 10-18 on the year.
 
Blanford went 5-for-9 from the floor and added three assists and three blocks. The senior forward was one of five Panthers to score in double figures – the first time this season EIU has had five players score 10 or more points in a game.
 
EIU hit a season-high 61.7 percent of its shot attempts, going 29-for-47 from the floor. The Panthers also went 5-for-15 from behind the arc and 21-for-31 from the foul line.
 
Chris Olivier scored a game-high 20 points as the redshirt-sophomore forward went 8-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the foul line to tie his season-high in scoring. He also added four rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes of action off the bench.
 
Reggie Smith added 13 points and a game-high six assists while Josh Piper and Luke Piotrowski rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 and 10 points, respectively. EIU also dished out 20 assists in the win – the second-most assists in a game this year for the Panthers.
 
Defensively, EIU held a 38-35 advantage on the glass. The Panthers also had nine blocks, the fifth time they have had nine or more blocks in a game this year.
 
EIU jumped out to an early 14-4 lead, holding the Cougars (11-16) without a field goal until the 13:16 mark. The Panthers led by eight or more points for the rest of the half and took a 40-25 lead into intermission.
 
The Panthers led by double figures the entire second half and had their first 20-point advantage (79-59) with 3:30 left in the contest. Smith hit back-to-back free throws with just over a minute left in regulation to make the score 84-62.
 
Eddie Denard led the Cougars with 14 points while Nate Duhon added 12 points. Matt Ross scored six points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Cougars were held to .362 field-goal percentage and a .214 three-point field-goal percentage. Chicago State also went 9-for-17 from behind the arc.
 
The Panthers return to action at SIU Edwardsville in the regular-season finale for both teams. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. and will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest.