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MACOMB, Ill. – Eastern Illinois had a 3-point attempt to win the game with seven seconds remaining but had the shot come up just short as the Panthers fell on the road, 56-54, on Wednesday night at Western Illinois.
EIU drops to 0-2 on the season and will host IUPUI on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. for the Panthers home opener. WIU improved to 2-0 on the year.
The Panthers were able to take an eight point lead with 5:45 left to play in the first half before WIU made a late charge to lead 30-28 at the half.
In the second half EIU pushed its lead to seven points at 60-53 on a Montell Goodwin 3-pointer with 6:03 to play. Goodwin was one of three Panthers in double figures finishing with 10 points. Goodwin's 3-point look at the end of the game was just off the rim.
Following EIU's run Dalen Ancrum single-handedly answered for the Leathernecks. Ancrum scored the final 11 points for WIU with his 3-pointer at 1:45 putting WIU up 54-52. Ancrum then hit a pair of free throws with 52 seconds left that gave WIU a four point margin.
D'Angelo Jackson drove the ball to the basket to make it a 56-54 game. EIU would make a defensive stop and following a missed free throw by WIU had a chance to tie or win the game in the final ten seconds.Â
Ancrum finished with a game high 21 points for WIU. Kobe Webster added ten.
Jajuan Starks was EIU's leading scorer with 15 points. Jackson finished with 11. The Panthers did win the battle on the glass with a 41-37 margin. Starks led EIU with seven rebounds.Â