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Sandy King)
Eastern Illinois men's basketball had its second half rally come up just short on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers lost 64-60 to Southern Indiana at Groniger Arena.
EIU trailed by as many as 20 points with just over 13 minutes remaining when Alex Horiuk sank a pair of free throws to give the Screaming Eagles a 46-26 lead.
The Panthers outscored USI 34-18 over the final 13 minutes of action but could never really get closer than six points until
Nakyel Shelton hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining to bring the deficit to four.
Shelton, coming off a 38-point performance on Thursday against OVC leader Morehead State, finished with 12 points.
Kooper Jacobi collected his eighth double-double this season with 17 points and 12 rebounds leading all players in both categories.
Zion Fruster added 15 including extending his consecutive streak of games with at least one made 3-pointer to 19 straight.
USI had balanced scoring throughout the contest with five players finishing with eight or more points. Stephen Olowoniyi was the lone USI player in double figures with 13 points.
EIU fell to 5-15 overall, 1-8 in the OVC. USI moved to 9-11 overall, 4-6 in the OVC.
EIU will play Little Rock on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. as the make-up game for the Dec. 21 postponed contest. The game will be in St. Charles, Mo., on the campus of Lindenwood.