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RICHMOND, Ky. –
LeTrell Viser hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 to play to give Eastern Illinois a little breathing room as the Panthers won at Eastern Kentucky for the first time since 2001 with a 72-65 win on Thursday night.
EIU has now won eight straight as they improved to 11-6 overall, 5-0 in the OVC. The Panthers will play at Morehead State on Saturday at 1 p.m. The defending OVC Champion Colonels dropped to 10-6 overall, 2-1 in the OVC. The eight straight wins ties the EIU school record for consecutive wins at the NCAA Division I level.
Viser put the Panthers up 12 points with 5:47 to play as he drained a 3-pointer which gave EIU a 62-50 lead. Viser was one of three EIU players in double figures finishing with ten points.
Ja'Mill Powell started an EKU run with a 3-pointer with 5:21 to play. Powell then added a tip-in following a missed free throw which cut EIU's lead to 63-59 with 3:04 to play.
Timmy Knipp converted on free throws with 2:02 to play that trimmed the lead to two points. EIU responded with Viser's 3-pointer and then made six straight free throws to close out the game.
EIU shot 71 percent in the opening half as they built a 41-29 lead.
Trae Anderson paced the Panthers in the first half scoring eight of his team-high 14 points in the first twenty minutes.
The Panthers defensive effort was solid as EIU held their opponent below 40 percent shooting for the fifth straight game. EKU was held to 38 percent shooting for the game. Corey Walden led all players with 29 points. Powell had 13.
Cornell Johnston finished with ten points and four assists. EIU finished the game shooting 54 percent from the floor.