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Tiger Booker sank a big 25-foot 3-pointer with 50 seconds left and Eastern Illinois sank six free throws in the final 30 seconds as the Panthers picked up a road win, 81-71, on Thursday night at Southern Indiana.
Booker finished with 29 points with 23 coming in the second and many of them in the crucial final minutes as EIU improved to 11-13 overall, 5-6 in the OVC.  USI fell to 6-18, 3-8 in the OVC.
EIU led 31-27 at the half only to see USI move out to a 50-42 lead with 11:42 to play following a pair of 3-pointers by Jack Campion. Campion led the Screaming Eagles with 20 points.
The Panthers responded with an 11-2 run to get back in the contest as the teams were tried 59-59 with 3:55 left in the contest.
EIU would take some control in the final minutes as they led 66-61 with 2:36 to play following a pair of jumpers by Booker and a three-point play by the senior guard.
Kyndall Davis was big throughout the game for EIU posting his first collegiate double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.Â
Sincere Malone had ten points off the bench joining
Jermaine Hamlin who added eight points off the bench for EIU. The Panthers finished the night 27-of-35 at the line including make their final six attempts.
EIU held USI's top scorer Jeremiah Hernandez to just six points. AJ Smith posted his tenth double-double this season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Mielke added 10.