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ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Eastern Illinois closed the game much the same way the Panthers opened it as they picked up a 78-68 win on Saturday at Lindenwood.
Nakyel Shelton opened the game with 11 straight points as EIU opened with an 11-0 run. The Panthers would hold a 43-39 lead at the half as both teams shot well in the opening half.Â
EIU shot 48 percent in the first half including 8-of-13 from 3-point range in that span. Lindenwood matched EIU from outside going 8-of-13 as well from outside and connecting at 55 percent from the field in the opening half.
Colin Ruffin tied the game for Lindenwood early in the second half and Jaylon McDaniel gave the Lions their first lead at 47-45 with 15:16 to play. Keith Haymon gave Lindenwood its biggest lead of the day with a 3-pointer with 9:46 left in the game putting Lindenwood up 57-54. Haymon scored 16 points off the bench, one of three Lions in double figures.
Corey Sawyer Jr tied the game on the next possession and the two teams went back-and-forth for the next five minutes.
Ruffin tied the game at 63-63 before Tiger Booker took over down the stretch for EIU. Booker scored 10 of the Panthers final 14 points. He hit four straight free throws to put EIU up 67-63. Booker had 16 points going 10-of-10 at the foul line.Â
Haymon closed the game to 67-66 with his fifth 3-pointer of the day with 4:38 remaining.  EIU closed the game on an 11-2 run to improve to 9-10 overall, 3-3 in the OVC.
Shelton had 16 points and was joined in double figures for EIU by
Kyndall Davis with 16 and
Dan Luers with 11.
Lindenwood was led by Keenon Cole with 21 points as the Lions fell to 7-11 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.