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Box Score |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – In a back-and-forth game SIUE was able to go on a 10-0 run early in the second half to extend a five point halftime lead into a double digit margin as the Cougars beat Eastern Illinois 80-62 on Thursday night at First Mid Court.
 
The two schools combined for seven lead changes and three ties in the first 19:30 of the contest.  Kinyon Hodges gave EIU a 31-30 lead with 1:52 left in the half in what proved to be the Panthers final lead of the game.  Hodges led EIU with 19 points, one of two Panthers to score in double figures in the contest.
 
SIUE was 6-of-11 from 3-point range in the opening half including 3-pointers by Shamar Wright and Damarco Minor in the final 90 seconds of the first half as Cougars closed on a 6-0 run to lead 36-31 at the break.
 
EIU shot 50 percent in the first half but could not connect from outside during the contest finishing the night 2-of-11.  Dan Luers and Cameron Haffner both drained 3's for the Panthers.
 
A 3-pointer by Wright with 16:12 left in the game gave SIUE its first double figure lead of the game.  Wright was 4-of-5 from 3-point range finishing with 14 points.
 
EIU cut the lead back to eight on a lay-up by Yaakema Rose Jr., on the next possession but following another 3-pointer by Wright on the next possession never got the margin back to single digits.
 
Caleb Donaldson had 11 points to join Hodges in double figures for EIU as the Panthers dropped to 6-12 overall, 2-3 in the OVC.
 
DeeJuan Pruitt led all scorers with 24 points as SIUE improved to 13-5 overall, 4-1 in the OVC.   
 
In the first half Minor set the OVC record for consecutive free throws made at 47 before a missing on a first half attempt.  The record had been held by Glen Napier of Morehead State at 46 during the 1981-82 season.