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MURRAY, Ky. – Eastern Illinois limited Murray State to 34 percent shooting but a quick start by the Racers held up during a 65-57 win over the Panthers on Thursday night at the CFSB Center in Murray.
EIU ends the regular season at 16-13 overall, 9-7 in the OVC. EIU will return to action on Wednesday, March 4 in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Nashville. Murray State has now won 23 straight games improving to 25-4, 15-0 in the OVC.
Murray State opened the game on a 12-0 run with Eastern Illinois scoring its first points at the free throw line with two shots by
Trae Anderson at 14:39. The Panthers first field goal came with 11:41 to play in the first on a field goal by
Chris Olivier cutting Murray State's lead to 14-4.
The Racers extended their lead to 20-5 following free throws and a basketball by Cameron Payne. Payne had nine of his 22 points in the first half.
Josh Piper hit a 3-pointer for the Panthers to end the Racers run as EIU was 4-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half. EIU was 8-of-20 from 3-point range for the game. The Panthers would cut the lead to 25-21 with 3:27 to play on a 3-pointer by
LeTrell Viser.
Murray State closed the half with a 9-0 run with Jarvis Williams starting the Racers run with a three point play. Williams had 13 first half points and 17 for the game. The Racers led 34-21 at the half.
EIU opened the second half with baskets by Anderson and Olivier as the Panthers cut into the lead at 34-26. Murray State slowly pulled away with Payne hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Racers a 52-38 lead with 9:49 to play.
EIU cut the lead to ten points on a Piper jumper with 4:11 to play and got to within eight as Olivier scored on the low block. Murray State pushed the lead back to double figures as T.J. Sapp drained a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:59 to play. Sapp had 14 points going 4-of-10 from 3-point range.
EIU would get to within six points in the final 40 seconds on free throws by Anderson. Anderson had 13 points. Olivier led EIU with 17 points.
The Racers dominated play on the glass with 17 offensive rebounds leading to 11 second chance points. EIU's defense held Murray State to 37 percent shooting in the first half and 34 percent for the game.