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Box Score  |  

CHARLESTON, Ill. – A late run by Eastern Illinois in the final four minutes of the game on Saturday afternoon lifted the Panthers to a 70-63 win over Little Rock.
 
EIU moved back to .500 in the league at 3-3 with a 7-12 overall record.  Little Rock fell to 5-14 overall, 1-5 in the OVC.
 
Myron Gardner sank a 3-pointer with 5:22 left in the game to give the Trojans a 55-54 lead in what was the tenth lead change of the game between the schools.
 
Yaakema Rose Jr., would knot the game at 55-55 going one of two at the foul line with 4:48 left.  EIU then went on a 10-2 run to take control of the game in the final minutes.
 
The run was sparked by both offensive and defensive plays as Nick Ellington had two of his five blocks in the game during the run, each block triggering a fast break by the Panthers.  Ellington, Kinyon Hodges and Caleb Donaldson all finished with dunks for the Panthers in the run.
 
Ellington scored all 13 of his points off the bench in the second half adding nine rebounds, five blocks and two steals to his stat line.
 
Hodges led all players with 23 points while Rose contributed 15 points with eight assists.
 
EIU shot 56 percent in the second half and finished shooting 47 percent for the game.
 
The Panthers defense held Little Rock to 38 percent shooting for the game.  Gardner just missed a double-double for the Trojans with ten points and nine rebounds.  Jordan Jefferson led Little Rock in scoring with 13 points.