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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE hit nine straight shots over a seven minute stretch late in the first half as the Cougars snapped the nation's longest losing streak at 15 games with a win over Eastern Illinois, 78-59, at the Vadalabene Center.
The lost prevented EIU from posting its third winning season since 2001 as the Panthers end the year at 14-15 overall, 6-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference. SIUE ends the year at 6-24 overall, 1-15 in the OVC.
After hitting a combined 32 3-pointers in two road games last week, EIU was cold from beyond the arc on Saturday evening as the Panthers finished 3-of-14 from 3-point range.
Senior
Demetrius McReynolds banked in one of his two 3-pointers early in the game as EIU built an 18-13 lead. SIUE then went on a 13-0 run with Burak Eslik hitting a 3-pointer and converting a three point play during the run. Eslik had a game high 22 points, one of two Cougar players with 20 or more points.
McReynolds hit his second 3-pointer of the game in the final twenty seconds of the first half and completed a four point play as EIU trailed 37-29 at the half.
In the second half EIU was able to drive to the basket to score points as the Panthers were 18-of-24 from the line to stay competitive in the game.Â
Muusa Dama was 8-of-10 from the stripe as he had 18 points to go with 12 rebounds.
EIU was cold from the field in the second half shooting 25 percent (6-of-24) as they ended the game shooting 34 percent from the field.
???????SIUE was consistent on offense in both halves with Josh White hitting several big shots in the second half for the Cougars as he finished with 20 points. EIU was able to cut the SIUE lead down to six points on a couple of occasions in the second half, the final time on a Dama jumper with 9:38.
???????McReynolds finished with 13 points in his final game at EIU.Â
Joe Kuligoski also played his final game in a Panthers uniform on Saturday evening.
???????Jalen Henry scored 13 points and Devin Thornton added 12 for SIUE.