Box Score
RICHMOND, Ky. – On a night that Eastern Illinois senior
Mack Smith set the NCAA record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer made, it was several scoreless stretches in the second half that helped Eastern Kentucky beat Eastern Illinois, 69-61 at McBrayer Arena.
EIU fell to 3-5 on the season, 0-1 in the OVC. EKU improved to 8-2 overall, 2-1 in the OVC.
Smith knocked down the NCAA record shot with 11:52 to play in the first half to extend his streak to 89 straight games. Smith started his streak in the same venue as he knocked down the first of the streak on Jan. 6, 2018 at EKU.
EKU would lead 43-36 at the half as the Colonels shot 53 percent from the floor. The Panthers stuck around in the game with their play on the glass. EIU held a 25-17 rebound margin in the first half and finished the game with a 49-37 advantage.
George Dixon led the Panthers with a double-double finishing with 12 points and 15 rebounds.Â
Sammy Friday IV added eight rebounds.
EIU cut the EKU lead to one point three times in the second half but could never take the lead. In the final 11 minutes of the game, EIU went through three long scoreless stretches one lasting four minutes.
On a night that EIU did not have
Josiah Wallace available,
Marvin Johnson and
Henry Abraham added nine points each.
EKU was led by Tre King with 22 points and 12 rebounds. EKU was held to 33 percent shooting in the second half. Â
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