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Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Eastern Illinois fell behind SIUE by 17 points at the half with the Cougars able to withstand several second half charges by the Panthers as EIU ended its 2024 season with a 68-57 loss at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
EIU ends the season at 14-18 overall. SIUE improved to 17-15.
Ray'Sean Taylor scored 18 of his 25 points in the opening half including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give SIUE a 39-22 lead at the half.
The Panthers jumped out quickly in the second with a 7-0 run on quick buckets by Kendall Davis and
Tiger Booker. Â
EIU cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the 5-minute mark of the first half on a jumper by Booker in the lane. Booker finished with 12 points, one of three Panthers in double figures in the game.
Another Booker lay-up with 7:40 to play in the game brought the margin down to six points at 53-47. Taylor would provide the answer for the Cougars on that EIU challenge.
Lamar Wright had six crucial points late in the game for SIUE as the Panthers never got the game back closer than eight points down the stretch.
Nakyel Shelton carried the EIU offense in the first half with ten points finishing the game with 20.Â
Dan Luers added 11.
Jermaine Hamlin pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Panthers on the glass as they stayed competitive with SIUE on the boards edged 39-34 in the overall margin. EIU had 13 offensive rebounds, Shelton pulling down four.
Four total SIUE players finished in double figures with Damarco Minor posting a double-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds.Â