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Box Score    |  

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Kashawn Charles provided a spark off the bench scoring a career-high 23 points to lead Eastern Illinois to an 84-59 win over Tennessee Tech as the Panthers improved to 5-0 at home this season.
 
EIU has now won two straight to move back to .500 on the season at 9-9 including a 2-4 record in the OVC.  TTU fell to 4-15 overall, 1-5 in the OVC.
 
Charles scored 13 of his 23 points in the first half hitting 3-of-4 from 3-point range as EIU built a 43-29 lead at the half.  EIU shot 54 percent from 3-point range in the first half which included a 3-pointer by Mack Smith.  Smith has now hit a 3-pointer in 67 consecutive games as he moved into third place on the NCAA Division I list for consecutive games with a 3-pointer.  Smith was 3-of-6 in the game also moving into seventh on the EIU career list.
 
Leading 14-12 at the 10:05 mark EIU went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes which gave the Panthers control of the contest with a 29-14 lead.  Charles and Smith both drained 3-pointers during the Panthers run.  A jumper by Charles with 2:20 to play in the first half gave the Panthers their biggest lead of the first half at 40-23. 
 
Jr Clay attempted to keep Tennessee Tech within striking distance scoring 17 first-half points as he finished with 22 in the game, one of two Golden Eagles in double figures.  Darius Allen added 12.
 
TTU cut the Panthers lead to ten points with 17:56 remaining in the game on a Reece Wilkinson lay-up.  EIU responded with a 7-0 run that included baskets by Josiah Wallace, JaQualis Matlock and Charles.
 
Smith finished with 13 points and Wallace added 11.  EIU finished the game shooting 53 percent from the floor and 46 percent from 3-point range.