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HOUSTON – Eastern Illinois went toe-to-toe with Houston in the first half holding the lead for close to seven minutes. In the second half the Cougars warmed up from the field pulling away for an 81-65 win.
EIU, 2-7 overall, returns to action on Monday afternoon playing Omaha at 1 p.m. in the third game of the Global Sports Classic in Las Vegas. Houston improved to 8-1 and will also head to the GSC in Las Vegas.
Houston led 41-37 at the half and quickly pushed the lead to eight points behind the hot hand of Ronnie Johnson as the guard had four of his 25 points in the first 45 seconds of the half to put the Cougars in front 45-37.
Demetrius McReynolds and
Cornell Johnston answered with 3-pointers for EIU as the Panthers trimmed the lead back to four points at 47-43. EIU was 8-of-21 from 3-point range on the day with Johnston going 6-of-7 to lead EIU with 19 points.
Johnson gave Houston a double digit lead for the first time in the game at 12:17. Johnston answered with a 3-pointer to get the lead back under ten. Wes Vanbeck had a three point play with 9:53 to play in the game sparking a long Houston run that handed the Cougars the win.
Houston built an early eight point lead at the 15:27 mark in the first half behind the hot shooting of Damyean Dotson who had 14 first half points going 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Dotson knocked down his fourth 3-pointer at the 11 minute mark and was held scoreless the rest of the first half.
EIU's defensive effort allowed the Panthers to battle back into the game.
A.J. Riley tied the game at 8:25 with a pair of free throws that made it 24-24. Riley then had a steal and lay-up on the next possession giving EIU its first lead of the game.
The Panthers held the lead until the final 1:28 of the first half as Ronnie Johnson gave the Cougars the lead with free throws. Galen Robinson drained a 3-pointer in the final minute to give Houston a 41-37 halftime lead.
McReynolds returned to the Panthers line-up after missing the last the couple of weeks with an injury. McReynolds had ten first half points. He finished with 13 points.
Patrick Muldoon added ten points for EIU.
EIU held its own on the glass in the first half finishing with a 17-15 rebound margin. Houston ended the game with rebounding edge 32-31.
Dotson had 16 points, Robinson 11 for Houston.