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HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – Long scoring droughts in the second half by both teams played a factor in Wednesday night's Global Sports Classic game between Marshall and Eastern Illinois. At the end of the night Marshall was able to use its early second half lead to the Thundering Herd's advantage hanging on for an 82-76 win.
EIU fell to 2-5 on the year. Marshall won its first game of the year to move to 1-6. EIU returns to action on Saturday afternoon at Western Illinois.
Eastern Illinois cut the halftime lead to one point with
Trae Anderson scoring two quick buckets to open the second half. After a Marshall basket,
Patrick Muldoon would cut the Thundering Herd lead back to one point.
Good offensive rebounding by Marshall led to quick baskets by C.J. Burks and James Kelly that started a 14-4 Marshall run. EIU would go on a scoring drought of nearly 5:30 following a 3-pointer by
Anthony Johnson at the 15:43 mark. EIU's next basket would come at 10:11 on a 3-pointer by
Casey Teson. Marshall led 66-51 at that point.
EIU went on a 10-0 run led by Anderson as the Panthers eventually closed the Marshall lead to five points with 3:18 left to play. The Panthers had several chances in the final three minutes to get closer but Marshall pulled down four offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive. Anderson's bucket with 19 seconds left in the game cut the lead to four.
Anderson carried Eastern Illinois in the first half with 13 of his 31 points. Anderson pushed the Panthers to an early 9-5 lead with his basket at the 17:29 mark.
Austin Loop answered with back-to-back 3-pointers that started a 13-0 Marshall run giving the Thundering Herd an 18-9 lead with 15:04 to play in the first.
Marshall extended its lead to 15 points at the 10:26 mark with Ryan Taylor sinking a 3-pointer, one of eight first half 3-pointers by Marshall. They would finish 8-of-24 from 3-point range on the night.
Anderson helped EIU slowly cut into the lead with a basket at 9:59. Two baskets by Muldoon off of Marshall turnovers were part of a late 8-0 EIU that cut Marshall's lead to one point with 1:07 left in the first half as
A.J. Riley hit a runner in the lane.
Loop's third 3-pointer of the first half with 27 seconds left in the half gave Marshall a 42-37 halftime lead.
Marshall had five players score in double figures led by Taylor with 21 and Burks with 19. Kelly had 16 points, 14 rebounds.
Muldoon had 12 points for EIU and Riley added 13.