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CHICAGO – Chicago State shot 75 percent from the field in the second half as the Cougars rallied from a nine point half time deficit to beat Eastern Illinois, 80-72, on Saturday afternoon at the Jones Convocation Center.
EIU fell to 3-5 on the season. Chicago State improved to 2-8.
The Cougars went on a 20-4 run to open the half behind the hot shooting of Travon Bell and driving play of guard Rob Shaw. Shaw's three point play cut EIU's lead to 46-44 with 17:01 to play. Bell then hit three straight 3-pointers for the Cougars to give CSU a 52-46 lead. Shaw finished with 14 points. Bell had 16 points going 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
The Panthers would overcome that CSU run as they would regain the lead on a 3-pointer by
Josiah Wallace with 8:31 to play. Wallace had a team-high 18 points for the Panthers.
Christian Jacob tied the game with a lay-up and Delshon Strickland had a fast-break lay-up off a steal with 8:10 to play that gave Chicago State the lead for good. Strickland had 12 points off the bench as CSU had five players finish in double figures.Â
Eastern Illinois had two runs in the first half as the Panthers led at the break 41-32. The final run of the half came in the final 2:05 of play. After hitting a cold streak of 1-of-9 from the field as a team,
Ben Harvey snapped the Panthers out of the slump with a 3-pointer with 2:05 left and EIU leading 31-29. Harvey would add another 3-pointer and mid-range jumper to finish the first half with 15 points.
EIU's first run of the half came following the first media timeout as they went on a 10-2 run to lead 21-13 with 11:15 to play in the first half.Â
Aboubacar Diallo had a pair of baskets in the run as he and Harvey helped EIU's bench score 19 first half points off the bench.Â
Harvey would finish the game with 17 points, one of four Panthers in double figures.Â
Mack Smith had 14 and
Rade Kukobat 12.
Anthony Harris posted a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds as CSU won the battle on the glass 35-30.