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Nakyel Shelton hit a runner with 31.5 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 58-58.
That would prove to be Eastern Illinois final points of the game as the Panthers fell 67-58 in overtime at Northwestern falling to 1-3 on the season. Northwestern moved to 3-1.
In the overtime session Northwestern scored the first four points of the extra session at the foul line with Jalen Leach and Nick Martinelli each knocking down free throws. The pair would combine for 43 of the Wildcats 67 points in the game, Leach scoring 27 and Martinelli 16.
EIU trailed 37-27 at the half and slowly chipped away at the Northwestern lead behind the hot hand of Shelton who scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. Shelton's basket with 7:56 to play gave EIU a 47-46 lead as the Panthers had a stretch of hitting five of seven from the field while Northwestern missed four straight shots.
EIU was unable to score for a three-minute stretch in the final four minutes of the game allowing Northwestern to erase a late three point EIU lead. Leach drained a 3-pointer to give Northwestern a 58-56 lead with 1:03 left before Shelton's game tying shot.
Kooper Jacobi just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.Â
Rodolfo Bolis chipped in with eight points.