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Eastern Illinois built a double figure lead late in the first half and held the double digit margin for all but 20 seconds of the second half as the Panthers won their second straight at home with a 72-57 win over Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon at Groniger Arena.
 
EIU honored its senior class prior to the game with all three active seniors contributing as EIU improved to 13-14 overall, 7-7 in the OVC.  Lindenwood dropped to 8-19 overall, 2-12 in the OVC.
 
The game had one tie at 4-4 in the first half but EIU controlled the pace of play most of the 40 minutes of action.  EIU went up ten points with 8:11 to play in the first as Tiger Booker knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 19-9.  Booker led the Panthers with 21 points adding five assists and two steals.
 
The Panthers led 35-25 at the half.
 
Lindenwood cut the lead to single digits on a Corey Ruffin lay-up with 18:07 remaining in the game.   Booker answered 19 seconds later with a lay-up to push the lead back to ten and the Lions never threatened again.
 
Four Panthers finished in double figures with Kyndall Davis posting his third double-double in the last four games with 11 points, ten rebounds. Corey Sawyer Jr had 15 and Dan Luers 11.  EIU's final senior Jermaine Hamlin had five points.
 
Jaylon McDaniel was the lone Lindenwood player in double figures finishing with ten points.  Lindenwood shot just 37 percent for the game.