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Box Score

RICHMOND , Ky. –  Eastern Kentucky held off Eastern Illinois in a frantic finish as the Colonels held off EIU 77-74 on Thursday night.

EIU lost its fourth straight game falling to 7-8 overall, 0-3 in the OVC.  EKU improved to 5-11 overall, 2-1 in the OVC.

EKU led by as many as 18 points in the first half holding a 46-32 lead at the half.  EKU opened with an 11-2 run with EIU's lone early basket on a lay-up by Jordan Skipper-Brown.  EKU would pull out to a 24-6 lead. 

George Dixon cut the Colonels lead to single digits at 35-25 on a three point play with 3:56 left in the first half.  In the second half Dixon would score with 15:22 left in the game to get EIU down by single digits at 48-40.  Dixon posted his sixth double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

EIU would go on a 12-1 run with Josiah Wallace scoring ten straight points as the Panthers trailed 59-58 with 7:46 to play.  Wallace had 16 points for EIU as one of four Panthers in double figures.  Mack Smith then gave EIU the lead at 62-61 with 6:27 remaining as he blocked a shot on one end and converted a jumper on the other.

In the final minute the two teams went back-and-forth with the game tied five times.  Jomaru Brown put EKU up 73-71 with a driving lay-up.  Brown led all scorers with 24 points. 

EIU had one final look at the basket to tie the game but the Panthers fell short.  Smith had 13 points for EIU.  Marvin Johnson added 15.

EKU had 13 points off the bench by Lachlan Anderson and 17 by Ty Taylor.