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Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio – Eastern Illinois closed with an 11-2 run but a 3-pointer as time expired fell short and the Panthers lost 66-63 on Tuesday night at Dayton.

EIU fell to 0-3 on the season while Dayton improved to 1-0 playing its season opener.

Dayton opened the game going 8-of-8 from the floor as the Flyers built a 15 point first half lead.  EIU was able to cut into that lead and trailed 38-33 at the half despite going nearly three minutes without a field goal to close the first half.

Mack Smith and Marvin Johnson led the Panthers with eight points each in the first half as both finished in double figures for the game.   Smith was 3-of-3 from 3-point range finishing with 13 points as he extended his NCAA leading streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer made to 84.  Johnson finished with 14 points.

EIU was cold coming out of the locker room in the second half knocking down their first basket with 14:28 to play in the game.  That basket ended a 10-0 run by Dayton as the Flyers again extended the lead to 15 points.

EIU would close on an 11-2 run.  Kashawn Charles would sink a 3-pointer from the corner to bring the Panthers to within 64-61.  Dayton would miss the front end of two one-and-one free throw opportunities.  After the second miss Josiah Wallace hit a runner in the lane to cut the Flyers lead to 64-63 with 16 seconds remaining.

Jalen Crutcher would step to the line and knock down both free throws before EIU's final 3-point attempt fell short.  Crutcher was one of four Dayton players in double figures with 13 points. Ibbi Watson led Dayton with 16 points.

Dayton finished the night shooting 51 percent from the floor.  It was Dayton's 21st straight win dating back to last season when the Flyers went 29-2 and were ranked third in the nation when the NCAA season was shuttered.