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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. –
Cornell Johnston scored ten of his 24 points in overtime on Saturday night as Eastern Illinois won its second straight home game with a 79-73 win over Northern Kentucky at Lantz Arena.
Tied at 62-62 at the end of regulation Johnston knocked down a 3-pointer at the 4:13 mark of overtime to give EIU an early 66-63 lead. Lavone Holland would help NKU answer with a 4-0 run that put the Norse in front 67-66 with 3:33 to play. Johnston hit a jumper and 3-pointer on consecutive possessions that gave EIU the lead for good with 1:56 to play. EIU closed out the game with four free throws by
Trae Anderson and Johnston.
EIU improved to 2-4 on the year and will play its opening game in the Global Sports Classic on Wednesday night at Marshall. NKU fell to 1-5.
The Panthers led 32-31 at the half shooting 46 percent from the field with
Casey Teson knocking down 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Teson's 3-pointer with 10:01 to play in the opening half pushed EIU's lead to six points at 22-16.
Tyler White kept the Norse in the game in the opening half with 11 of his 12 points. White hit a pair of free throws with 57 seconds remaining in the half to cut the Panthers halftime lead to one point.
NKU opened the second half with a 5-0 run as Cole Murray drained a 3-pointer and Holland converted a lay-up off a steal. Johnston ended the first NKU run with a pair of free throws. Jalen Billups extended the lead back to four points with a jumper.
Marshawn Blackmon had four straight points for EIU with a pair of steals, the second ending with a dunk at 14:56.
Anderson tied the game at 40-40 at the 12:43 mark as the senior finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds. The two teams played back-and-forth for the remainder of regulation with the largest lead coming with 7:06 left to play as Jordan Garnett finished off a three point play to give NKU a 50-47 lead. The two teams had seven ties over the final 12:43 of the game.
A.J. Riley has 12 points as EIU shot 50 percent from the floor.
Holland had a double-double for NKU with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Billups added 15 points.