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ASHEVILLE, NC – In a game that had 17 lead changes the two most important came in the final nine seconds as Eastern Illinois picked up a 79-78 win over Gardner-Webb in the opening game of the
visitcurrituckOBX.com Battle in the Blue Ridge in Asheville, N.C.
EIU improved to 2-2 on the season. GWU fell to 1-4 on the season.
EIU held a 77-76 lead with 32.2 seconds remaining and GWU forced a turnover in the paint. David Efianayi drove the lane for a lay-up with nine seconds remaining to give GWU a 78-77 lead. Efianayi had 20 points to lead the Bulldogs.Â
After the teams used a combined four timeouts,
Rade Kukobat was fouled setting a screen on the inbounds play for EIU. The junior stepped to the line and sank both free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining. EIU played protection defense on the GWU inbounds to win the game.
EIU jumped out to a seven point lead in the second half with a pair of 3-pointers by
Kashawn Charles that put EIU up 51-44. EIU finished the game 12-of-26 from 3-point range for 46 percent. The Panthers shot 51 percent from the field for the game.
Efianayi rallied GWU back and Justin Jenkins 3-pointer with 9:10 to play gave the Bulldogs a 58-56 lead. The two teams traded the lead back and forth down the stretch.Â
Mack Smith had 11 straight points for EIU as he finished with 13, one of four Panthers in double figures.
Gardner-Webb led by as many as ten points with just over seven minutes to play in the first half as GWU went on a 13-0 run. Jose Perez dropped in a pair of 3-pointers during the run as he finished the game with 15 points.
EIU battled back behind the hot first half shooting of
Josiah Wallace. Wallace had 16 first half points hitting three straight 3-pointers that trimmed GWU's lead to 29-28 with 5:43 to play in the first half.Â
Lucas Jones 3-pointer with a minute left to play to give the Panthers at 37-36 lead. GWU closed out the half to hold the lead at the half 38-37. GWU shot 52 percent from the field in the first half and 53 percent for the game.
Wallace led all scorers with 22 points. Kukobat had 12 and Charles 11 for EIU. Kukobat had eight rebounds for EIU as the Panthers finished with a 35-23 advantage on the glass including 11 offensive rebounds.
Nate Johnson added ten points and six rebounds for GWU.
EIU plays Arkansas State at 4 pm on Saturday. Â