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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Eastern Illinois used a barrage of first half 3-pointers on Thursday night as the Panthers beat SIUE, 79-65, at the Vadalabene Center.
EIU improved to 14-12 overall, 7-6 in the OVC. SIUE fell to 8-17 overall, 4-9 in the OVC.
SIUE opened the game with a 7-3 run. EIU answered with a 17-0 run and the Panthers never looked back in the contest.Â
Josiah Wallace and
Ben Harvey both knocked down 3-pointers during the run as EIU made 11 shots from behind the arc in the first half.
EIU held a 40-26 lead as
Mack Smith and Wallace both had 12 first half points for the Panthers.
In the second half EIU cooled off 3-point range taking only six 3-point attempts and knocking one down when
Rade Kukobat converted midway through the second half.
EIU would push its lead to as many as 21 points with 15:38 remaining on a bucket by Harvey that put EIU up 50-29. Harvey would finish with 15 points, one of three Panthers in double figures.
SIUE would make an 8-0 run that trimmed into the big Panthers lead cutting the margin to 54-42. The Cougars would cut the Panthers lead to 12 points three times and Daniel Kinchen's free throws with 1:15 to play brought SIUE as close as it would get in the second half, trailing 74-63.
EIU was able to close out the game converting at the foul line.Â
Smith led EIU with 18 points. Wallace added 16.Â
JaQualis Matlock had a team high 11 rebounds.
Brandon Jackson led SIUE with 16 points, all in the first half. Jackson pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jaylen McCoy had 12 points while Kinchen added 11.