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EDWARDSVILLE – SIU Edwardsville was red hot in the first half as the Cougars picked up an 80-63 Valentine's Day win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday night at the Vadalabene Center.
EIU fell to 15-11 overall, 8-5 in the OVC. The Panthers return to action on Thursday night hosting UT Martin at 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena. The game will be televised on the American Sports Network. SIUE improved to 10-14 overall, 6-7 in the OVC.
SIUE was hot from the start of the game as the Cougars hit six of their first seven shots opening up a 14-2 lead at the 15:19 mark as Keaton Jackson dropped in a lay-up.
EIU would look to its bench to cut into the early SIUE lead.
Reggie Smith provided a spark scoring six points on a pair of three point plays. Smith had eight first half points and 11 for the game. Smith cut the lead to six points on two occasions, the last one at the 11:50 mark with SIUE leading 19-13.
Each time Smith cut the Cougars lead to six, SIUE responded with a 3-pointer. Michael Messer had the first and Rozell Nunn the second as both players scored in double figures in the opening half. SIUE was 7-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half and 8-of-20 for the game.
The Cougars led 45-27 at the half as they hit 63 percent from the field. Messer's 3-pointer with 10:03 to play in the first gave SIUE a double figure lead.
EIU opened the second half with a 9-0 run cutting the Cougars lead to single digits on a lay-up by
Anthony Johnson that cut the lead to 45-36. Nunn scored the Cougars next eight points as they pushed the lead to 50-36.
The Panthers would get to within ten points on baskets by
LeTrell Viser and
Chris Olivier. Each time SIUE answered as EIU would never get the lead back to single digits.
Cornell Johnston finished with three assists as he broke the EIU freshman record for assists in a season.
Dylan Chatman had five 3-pointers and 15 points to lead EIU.
Trae Anderson had 11.
Messer, Nunn, Kris Davis and Jackson all had double figures for SIUE. Messer led the way with 23 points. Nunn had 18, Davis 11 and Jackson 10.