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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois shot 61 percent from the field and used an 11-0 run midway through the first half to pull away and beat Green Bay, 93-80, on Saturday afternoon at Lantz Arena.
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EIU improved to 5-4 on the season including 3-0 at home. Green Bay fell to 3-6.
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George Dixon posted a double-double in the first half helping EIU dominate play on the glass. Dixon had 16 points and ten points in the first half as EIU held a 28-10 rebound edge in the opening half.
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Dixon was 7-of-10 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes as EIU shot 62 percent in the first half. Leading 21-15 with 12:17 to play in the first half, EIU went on an 11-0 run to take control of the game. EIU would stretch its lead out to 50-30 with 1:46 remaining in the first half with Green Bay head coach Linc Darner picked up his second technical of the game.
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Mack Smith sank both free throws as he scored 17 of his 24 points in the opening half. EIU took a 56-32 lead to the locker room.
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Green Bay would use more pressure in the second half as they chipped away at the big Panthers halftime lead. Green Bay would go on a 12-2 run that ended with 7:02 to left in the game. PJ Pipes knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the EIU lead to single digits at 78-69.
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Dixon would provide an answer for the Panthers with a lay-up and pair of free throws. Dixon finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds shooting 10-of-14 from the floor. Seven of Dixon's rebounds were on the offensive glass as EIU finished the evening with a 40-21 rebound margin.
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Pipes closed the game at the line for Green Bay as he led the Phoenix with 17 points. Kameron Hankerson had 15 as four Green Bay players scored in double figures.
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Deang Deang (12 points) and
Josiah Wallace (11 points) rounded out the double figure scorers for EIU.