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Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Illinois State made its first trip to First Mid Court at Lantz Arena in more than 40 years and the home opener for Eastern Illinois would provide shades of some of the rivalry games the two teams had when they were one time conference foes.
 
In the end Illinois State held on for a 54-49 win over EIU as the Redbirds moved to 1-1 on the season and EIU fell to 0-2.
 
The Panthers trailed 28-16 at the half after shooting just 26 percent from the floor in the opening half.   EIU's intense defense was able to keep them in the game as they cut the margin to 32-30 on a Sincere Malone driving lay-up with 11:32 left in the game.
 
EIU knotted the game at 32-32 with 9:36 left in the contest knocking down a pair of free throws as he finished with a team-high 14 points, the only Panther in double figures.
 
Luke Kasubke countered with a 3-pointer to put the Redbirds back in front as ISU was 9-of-22 from 3-point range in the game including 5-of-11 in the second half.  Kasubke was 4-of-5 himself from 3-point range scoring a game-high 16 points.
 
EIU would cut the ISU lead down to one possession four more times over the final six and a half minutes including trailing by one point with 31 seconds left after Yaakema Rose Jr's lay-up made it 50-49.
 
Nick Ellington had a pair of dunks that resulted in three-point plays in the run as he scored eight points off the bench.
 
The Panthers held Kendall Lewis to just four points but the forward did pull down 14 rebounds.  Rose led EIU with eight boards.
 
Malachi Poindexter (11 pts) and Joe Petrakis (10 pts) both joined Kasubke in double figures for the Redbirds.
 
EIU finished the game shooting 2-of-18 from 3-point range.