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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Several key runs by both teams favored Purdue Fort Wayne at the end of the night as the Mastodons held off a late Eastern Illinois rally to win 74-69.

EIU fell to 4-4 on the season and will host Green Bay on Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. in Lantz Arena.  National performing act Mutts Gone Nuts will perform at the half.  Purdue Fort Wayne improved to 6-5.

After turnovers plagued Purdue Fort Wayne in the opening half, the Mastodons had a ten minute stretch in the second half without a turnover as they built a 13 point lead.  Jarred Godfrey had eight of his 20 points during an 11-0 run pulling out to a 59-46 lead.

EIU made a late charge to cut the Mastodons lead down to one point with 46 seconds left as Josiah Wallace had a driving lay-up. 

In the final 45 seconds EIU had two turnovers that prevented the Panthers from getting over the hump.  Marcus DeBerry made two free throws to make it a three point game with 14 seconds left.  EIU then had a turnover that the Mastodons converted for a final basket as time expired.

EiU had an early 10-0 run in the first half building an early eight point lead.  JaQualis Matlock knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:05 left in the first half and EIU took a 33-32 lead to the half.  EIU forced 12 first-half turnovers that they converted into 13 points.  EIU scored only seven points off turnover in the second half.

In the second half Purdue Fort Wayne knocked down 6-of-10 from 3-point range with several coming during the 11-0 run.  DeBerry had a par of 3-pointers to finish with 12 points.

Marvin Johnson led EIU with 16 points.  Mack Smith had 12 with Wallace adding ten.  George Dixon pulled down 14 rebounds just missing a double-double with nine points.