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Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)
Eastern Illinois shot 50 percent from the field with
Kyndall Davis scoring a career-high 26 points as the Panthers picked up a 75-57 win over Southeast Missouri on Thursday night at Groniger Arena.
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EIU had balanced scoring all night as they had three players finish in double figures improving to 12-14 overall, 6-7 in the OVC. SEMO fell to 8-18 overall, 3-10 in the OVC.
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After trailing for the first two and half minutes of the contest, EIU went on a 9-0 run and the Panthers never trailed again after
Corey Sawyer Jr's 3-pointer with 17:13 to play in the first. Â
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Davis pushed the Panthers lead out to double figures with 12:03 to play.  A basket and free throw by Josh Earley cut the lead back to single digits with 8:43 remaining in the first, but
Sincere Malone answered with a lay-up to push the lead back to double figures and the Redhawks never got closer than 10 points the remainder of the game.
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Davis just missed his third straight double-double pulling down nine rebounds to go with his 26 points.  EIU owned the glass with a 43-30 rebounding margin.Â
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The Panthers also forced 14 Redhawks turnovers leading to 16 points off turnovers.Â
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EIU led 35-20 at the half and pushed the lead to as high as 24 points in the final four minutes on a three point play by Davis.
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Sawyer scored 15 points and
Tiger Booker rounded out the EIU double figure scorers with 11.
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Marqueas Bell led SEMO with 17 points while Earley had 15 points and eight rebounds.