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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky used a late run to break open a two point game in the final three minutes as NKU beat Eastern Illinois, 80-70, on Wednesday night at BB&T Arena.
EIU dropped to 5-4 on the season and will play at Western Illinois on Saturday afternoon. NKU improved to 6-3.
EIU closed the NKU lead to 67-65 on a dunk by
Muusa Dama with 3:26 remaining as the Panthers came back from a double digit deficit early in the second half.
The Norse answered with Lavone Holland draining back-to-back 3-pointers as EIU missed three shots on the offensive end of the floor. Holland ended the game scoring nine points of his 28 points in the final three minutes. His final three points came at the foul line as NKU was 16-of-22 for the game.
Holland led NKU to a double digit lead early in the second half as his 3-pointer sparked a 12-2 Norse run. Holland dropped in another 3-pointer during the run as he was 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
EIU answered with a run of its own with
Demetrius McReynolds scoring five points during a 9-2 run. McReynolds dribbled into the lane for a lay-up with 7:21 left to play that gave EIU a 63-62 lead. McReynolds was one of three EIU players in double figures finishing with 16 points.
Eastern Illinois jumped out to a 14-8 lead as both teams were hot to the open the half. McReynolds completed a four-point play to put the Panthers up six at the 15:40 mark.
NKU used a 20-12 points in the paint advantage as they pushed their lead to eight points with 7:19 to play in the first on a low post jumper by Drew McDonald. McDonald would give the Norse a 39-37 halftime lead sinking a pair of free throws with two seconds left in the half after
Ray Crossland had tied the game with a put-back in the final 22 seconds.
NKU shot 59 percent in the opening half while EIU connected on 54 percent going 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
Cornell Johnston hit three first half 3-pointers, scoring 11 of his team high 17 points in the first half. Dama rounded out the EIU double figure scorers with 13 points.
NKU finished the game shooting 49 percent with McDonald scoring 17 points and Carson Williams scoring ten.