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Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois men's basketball returned home to Groniger Arena after posting a 2-1 record on the road to open Ohio Valley Conference play. The Panthers hosted defending OVC champion and current league leader Morehead State falling 78-52 on Thursday night.
EIU trailed by 13 at the half but had three players score in double figures in the game cutting the lead down to six in the second half.
Kyndall Davis scored ten of his 15 points early on as the Panthers were tied at 18 with 6:15 to play in the first. The Eagles shot 52 percent in the opening half and closed on an 18-5 run with Riley Minix hitting a shot as time expired for the final basket of the half. Minix scored 27 points, one of two Eagles with more than 20 in the game.
EIU cut the lead down to six with 10:14 to play on a driving lay-up by Tiger Booker. Booker led the Panthers with 20 points, his third straight game with 20 or more points.
Dieonte Miles hit free throws to push the lead back to double figures before
Nakyel Shelton hit a jumper to cut the lead back to eight with 7:01 remaining.
Minix added a jumper with 5:11 to play and the Eagles used a late run in the final four minutes to open up the margin of victory.
Shelton scored ten points to join Booker and Davis in double figures.
Jordan Lathon scored 20 points with 13 rebounds for Morehead State which is 13-4, 4-0 in the OVC.
EIU falls to 8-9 overall, 2-2 in the OVC.