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MACOMB, Ill. – Four players scored in double figures on Saturday afternoon as Eastern Illinois picked up a 63-49 road win at Western Illinois.
EIU improved to 6-4 on the year and will play next Saturday at Missouri. WIU fell to 2-7 on the season.
The first half witnessed seven ties and four lead changes as the two in-state rivals battled back and forth for the first 12 minutes of the game. A lay-up by
Ray Crossland tied the game at 18-18 with 8:21 left to play in the first.
Crossland's lay-up started a 14-3 run for the Panthers that included eight points by
Cornell Johnston with a floater in the lane and a pair of 3-pointers. Johnston's 3-pointer with 4:34 put the Panthers up 30-21. The junior guard had all 11 of his points in the first half.
EIU would extend its first half lead to ten points on a Crossland jumper with 1:41 to play in the half. C.J. Duff would hit one-of-two at the foul line in the final minute to cut EIU's halftime lead to 36-27.  Duff finished with ten points, one of three WIU players in double figures.
Montell Goodwin propelled the Panthers offense in the second half scoring 13 of his 17 points in the second half. Goodwin scored five straight points as the Panthers pushed the lead to 49-35 with 12:24 to play in the game converting a three-point play and sinking a jumper in the lane.
The Panthers defense helped do the rest as Western Illinois shot 37 percent in the opening half and cooled off in the second half to finish the game shooting 30 percent. EIU won the battle on the glass with a 43-36 rebound advantage.
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Muusa Dama posted his second double-double of the season finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. Crossland was the fourth EIU player in double figures with 12 points and nine rebounds.
EIU played the final five minutes without Johnston as he left the game with an injury at the 4:55 mark with EIU leading 58-40.Â
Garret Covington and Mike Miklusak led WIU in scoring. Covington had 12 points. Miklusak scored 18.