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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Five Eastern Illinois players scored in double figures as the Panthers rolled to a 99-55 win over Blackburn College in their final non-conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon at Groniger Arena.
 
Three of the Panthers five starters finished in double figures with Zion Fruster leading the way with 15 points.  Kooper Jacobi had 13 and Malik Olafioye added 11.   Obadiah Curtis and Lazar Grbovic joined the double figure party off the bench with Curtis tying for team-high honors with 15.  Grbovic had 12.
 
EIU turned up the pressure in the first half with 27 points scored off of 17 Blackburn first half turnovers.  EIU ended the game with 45 points off of 29 total Beavers turnovers.  Curtis had a team-high five steals as the Panthers finished with 20 in the game which was one off the school record of 21 steals set during the 1987 season against Harris-Stowe.
 
EIU shot 73.5 percent in the opening half to build a 57-21 halftime lead.  The Panthers cooled off slightly in the second half shooting 58.1 percent in the half and 66.2 percent for the game.
 
The Panthers led 10-7 after just five and a half minutes of play but went on a 13-3 run and never looked back.  Odis Grissom hit a 3-pointer for Blackburn as their points during the run as he scored a game-high 19 points hitting 5-of-8 from 3-point range.
 
EIU finished with 70 points in the paint in the game and a 35-26 rebound advantage.
 
EIU is now 4-8 on the season.  Blackburn is 0-9.