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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. –
Demetrius McReynolds got a hot shooting hand late and Eastern Illinois made free throws when the Panthers most needed them as EIU was able to grind out a 71-67 win over Troy on Kid's Day at Lantz Arena on Monday afternoon.
McReynolds scored eight points on three straight possessions giving EIU a 62-61 lead with 2:15 to play as he converted a three point play. On the next defensive possession, McReynolds had one of EIU's 11 team steals and drained a 3-pointer to put the Panthers up 65-61. Following a 3-pointer by Kevin Baker for Troy, McReynolds again answered with a jumper at the elbow to put the Panthers up three with 1:21 to play.
Troy would tie the game at 67-67 on a three point play by Jeremy Hollimon with 1:08 to play. Hollimon had a chance to give the Trojans the lead in the final 39 seconds but missed two free throws. EIU would battle for a loose ball and
Montell Goodwin would be fouled. Goodwin sank both free throws with 15 seconds left as he was one of four Panthers in double figures finishing with 16 points.
The Trojans had a shot to win the game with five seconds left but Baker's 3-pointer was off the mark.
Cornell Johnston was fouled on the inbounds play and sank both free throws to give the Panthers a four point cushion at 71-67. Johnston had 11 points and four assists as he moved into second on the EIU career assists list with 349.
Playing in front of 3,111 students from area schools EIU jumped out to a 12 point lead as Goodwin sank a 3-pointer with 8:59 to play in the first giving EIU a 26-14 lead. Troy would chip away at that lead the remainder of the half trimming it to one point on another three point play by Holliman with 1:47 to play in the first. Holliman had eight points as EIU led 38-33 at the half.
Eastern Illinois was able to keep the lead at one or two possessions most of the second half with the biggest lead of seven points coming on the first bucket of the second half by Goodwin.
Troy was in the bonus midway through the second half and converted at the foul line to tie the game at 54-54 with 7:21 and then take the lead at 55-54 with 6:39 to play as Juan Davis Jr., made three of four at the foul line. Troy finished the day 19-of-27 at the line. EIU was 13-of-21 including five straight misses late in the second half.
Jordon Varnado gave Troy a 57-56 lead with 5:53 to play and Davis knocked down two at the foul line to give Troy its biggest lead at 59-56 with 3:56 to play. Johnston tied the game with a 3-pointer for EIU setting the stage for McReynolds late game hot shooting. McReynolds finished with 19 points.
Ray Crossland added ten of the bench.
The Panthers did a better job defensively on Varnado on Monday afternoon limiting him to 11 points and 11 rebounds. He had 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win at Troy on Nov. 14. Wesley Person was held without a 3-pointer for the second time this season against EIU as he finished with ten points. The Panthers snapped Person's 61-game streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer made in the last meeting. Kevin Baker led Troy with 15 points.
Muusa Dama had 13 rebounds for EIU, his third game this season with double figure rebounds.
EIU improved to 3-2 on the year and will host South Alabama on Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. in Lantz Arena. Troy fell to 2-2.