Box Score |
Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball used a 16-0 run near the end of the contest on Thursday night as the Panthers stormed back for the second straight year to beat Murray State at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena. The Panthers picked up their second straight Ohio Valley Conference win with a 74-68 win.
EIU improved to 5-5 overall, 2-1 in the OVC. Murray State fell to 4-6 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.
The Racers led 38-33 at the half after shooting 52 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Chico Carter Jr., has 13 of his 15 points in the opening half.
Devin Gilmore's lay-up with 13:40 to play put Murray State up 13 at 53-40. EIU would make a couple of small charges in the game over the next six minutes closing to within two points on
Josiah Wallace free throws with 7:02 remaining. Wallace posted his first career double-double finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Murray State would extend its lead back out to eight points two times over the next three minutes with DaQuan Smith draining a 3-pointer and Tevin Brown making a jumper with 4:33 remaining that put the Racers up 64-56.
EIU would score the next 16 points to take the lead. EIU's defense would pick up steals on five straight possessions leading to fast-break buckets as
Kashawn Charles and
Marvin Johnson both converted twice during the run. Johnson led EIU with 20 points.
KJ Williams would end the run with a bucket with 33 seconds remaining in the game as EIU led 70-66. EIU would hit four of its final six free throws to ice the game.
Charles had three of the Panthers nine steals in the game while
Mack Smith returned to the line-up and knocked down a 3-pointer to extend his streak to 90 straight games with a made 3-pointer.
Murray State shot 40 percent in the second half as Williams (13 points) and Brown (11 points) both finished in double figures.