MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois hit ten 3-pointers on Saturday afternoon as the Leathernecks snapped a five-game win streak by Eastern Illinois in the Old Railsplitter Axe Rivalry Game as WIU won 71-54 at Western Hall.
EIU fell to 2-10 on the season and will play its final non-conference game on Tuesday at Ball State. WIU improved to 9-2 on the year.
WIU shot 50 percent in the opening half as they built a 39-29 lead. The Leathernecks connected on 6-of-13 from 3-point range in the opening half with Will Carius scoring 14 of his game-high 25 points in the opening half.
EIU dumped the ball inside for its first half offense with
Sammy Friday IV scoring eight points and
Jermaine Hamlin scoring six. Hamlin would finish the game with a season high 14 points going 6-of-12 from the floor.
The Panthers were able to get to within seven points early in the second half on a
Dan Luers 3-pointer with 19:07 left in the game. WIU would respond a 6-0 run to push their lead back to double figures.
EIU would get the lead back to single digits several more times the last on a
Kashawn Charles three point play with 8:37 to get EIU to within eight points with 8:37 remaining, the closest EIU would get the remainder of the game. Carius would answer for WIU to end the Panthers threat knocking down a jumper and a 3-pointer two of the next three Leatherneck possessions.
Henry Abraham finished with 10 assists, six rebounds and five points playing the entire game for EIU.
Trenton Messner and Luka Barisic both finished in double figures for WIU. Messner had 18 points while Barisic added 11.  After opening the first half 6-of-13 from 3-point range, WIU was 4-of-12 on 3-pointers in the second half.