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MILWAUKEE –  Mack Smith hit a dagger of a 3-pointer and free throws by Smith and Marvin Johnson allowed Eastern Illinois to post a 75-68 win at Milwaukee on Saturday night.

EIU improved to 6-4 on the season while Milwaukee fell to 5-6.

After posting a 20-point lead in the first half, Eastern Illinois watched Milwaukee climb back into the game on a couple of occasions.  Milwaukee would use a 15-2 run in the second half as they closed that margin to 60-57.

George Dixon would end that first Milwaukee challenge with a jump shot with 6:38 left in the game.  Dixon posted his fourth double-double of the season finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Milwaukee closed to 64-61 with 2:40 left in the game when Mack Smith hit a 3-pointer to give EIU some breathing room.  Smith would then add a pair of free throws for some insurance. 

Darius Roy hit a pair of 3's in the final 30-seconds to keep Milwaukee in the game.  Marvin Johnson would be grabbed for an intentional foul after Roy's second 3-pointer with 18 seconds made it 69-68.  Johnson and Mack Smith closed the game at the line to give EIU the win.

Smith finished with 24 points going 6-of-12 from 3-poinr range. 

Eastern Illinois raced out to an early lead forcing a pair of turnover that led by dunks by Mack Smith and JaQualis Matlock to push EIU to an early 8-3 lead.

EIU would follow that early spurt with a 17-1 run to lead by 20 points at 31-11 on a dunk by Jordan Skipper-Brown.   Mack Smith and Shareef Smith would both drain 3-pointers in the extended run.

Milwaukee chipped away at the lead forcing turnovers and making trips to the free throw line. Milwaukee forced nine turnovers while going 10-of-13 from the foul line in the opening half.  The free throws helped Milwaukee overcome a 28 percent shooting clip in the first half.  Milwaukee ended the night shooting 30 percent from the field and 17-of-23 from the free throw line.

Amir Allen would bring Milwaukee back within single digits with 2:18 to play with a jumper in the lane.  Mack Smith would answer for EIU with his third 3-pointer of the half as he had 11 first-half points as EIU led 46-34.

Roy led Milwaukee with 24 points.  Josh Thomas had 13 points.