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Eastern Illinois used a key 18-1 run midway through the first half as the Panthers pulled away for a 87-57 win over NAIA member Calumet Saint Joseph in front of 2,839 students from local schools during Kid's Day at Groniger Arena.
 
EIU had three players finish in double figures with Zion Fruster and Nakyel Shelton each scoring 19 points.  Kooper Jacobi added 15 as the third Panther in double figures.
 
Antonio Buckley tied the game at 13-13 making one of two at the foul line with 11:14 to play.  Blake Goodman scored on a put-back basket for EIU as the Panthers rolled off the next 15 points to build a double digit lead.
 
Rasmus Westerlund snapped EIU's run making one of two at the line for the Crimson Wave as Shelton capped the Panthers big first half run with a 3-pointer with 4:51 to play in the first.  Brian Gatewood scored on a lay-up with 4:32 to play to end the Calumet long field goal draught.
 
EIU led 39-18 at the break.  The Panthers shot 51.6 percent in the second half scoring 48 points to improve to 3-6 on the season.
 
EIU had a 50-18 points in the paint advantage with nine of the Panthers eleven players in uniform scoring in the contest.  Lazar Grbovic led the EIU reserve group with eight points and four rebounds.
 
Colby Wiggins led Calumet with 16 points as the Crimson Wave are 4-2 on the season.