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Box Score

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Eastern Illinois hit an untimely cold spell on Saturday afternoon and lost their second straight three point contest as a furious rally came up short, 69-66, at Morehead State.

EIU falls to 7-9 overall, 0-4 in the OVC.  Morehead State improved to 9-7 overall, 3-1 in the OVC.

Eastern Illinois led most of the game taking a 36-31 lead at the half as they closed hitting eight of their final nine shots in the half.  Josiah Wallace had 11 points in the closing run as he finished the game with 17 points.

In the second half it was a cold spell that hurt the Panthers as they went just over six minutes without scoring as Morehead State overcame what had been a nine-point EIU lead.

Malik Riddle gave the Eagles their first lead of the game with 5:20 to play with a steal and lay-up.  That bucket would be in the midst of a 12-0 MSU run that put the Eagles up 67-58 before George Dixon broke EIU's scoring slump with 50 seconds remaining in the game.

EIU would then close the game to a one score differential with an 8-0 run in the final 36 seconds.  EIU closed to 67-66 with 14 seconds left in the game on a Marvin Johnson lay-up.

Ta'lon Cooper would hit a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining to help Morehead State hang on for the win.

Dixon had 12 points for EIU while Johnson scored 11.
Justin Thomas led the Eagles with 18 points.