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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Evansville opened the game hot from 3-point range as the Purple Aces built an early 22 point lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half as Evansville finished the game 11-of-31 from 3-point range during a 70-54 win over Eastern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.
 
EIU fell to 1-6 on the season while Evansville improved to 3-6 overall.
 
Evansville was 8-of-16 from 3-point range in the opening half with Blaise Beauchamp, Shamar Givance and Jawaun Newton all having a pair of 3-pointers in the opening half.  Beauchamp scored all 12 of his points in the first half.  Givance had ten of his game-high 26 in the opening half. 
 
The Purple Aces hit their first five 3-point shots as they raced out to a 23-5 lead with 11:09 to play in the first.  The lead would grow to 22 points on a Beauchamp 3-pointer with 8:21 left in the first half.
 
EIU would cut the lead down to 12 points with just over a minute remaining on a bucket by Kashawn Charles.  Charles would finish the game with ten points, one of three Panthers in double figures in the game.
 
Beauchamp closed the half for Evansville with a jumper to give the Purple Aces a 38-24 lead at the break.
 
A 3-pointer by Charles early in the second half would again trim the Evansville lead to 12 points with 19 minutes left in the game. 
 
Evansville would counter with an extended 17-4 run over the next eight minutes with Givance doing most of the damage for the Aces.  He would score eight points and add two steals during the run with Evansville leading by 25 points with 10:21 left in the game.
 
A 3-pointer by Chris Robinson in the final minutes would bring EIU back to within 13 points, but the Panthers would get no closer in the contest.
 
Sammy Friday IV led EIU with 12 points and eight rebounds.  Kejuan Clements had 11 points. 
 
Newton collected a double-double for Evansville with 13 points, 12 rebounds.