PDF Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -
Artese Stapleton hit two big three pointers down the stretch and
Nakyel Shelton hit clutch free throws to give Eastern Illinois a 56-54 win over Little Rock on Monday afternoon in a make-up contest from the Dec. 21 postponed contest.
Little Rock had a final chance to tie the game after Shelton gave EIU the lead with 3.1 seconds left in regulation. A made basket by Tuongthach Gatkek was waved off after a replay review to give the Panthers the win.
EIU snapped a seven-game losing streak improving to 6-15 overall, 2-8 in the OVC. Little Rock had its five-game win streak snapped falling to 13-8 overall, 7-3 in the OVC.
The Trojans led 23-21 at the half pushing the lead to double figures with 14:54 to play as Ante Beljan sank a pair of free throws to stake the Trojans to a 36-26 lead. Beljan led Little Rock with 14 points.
EIU cut the lead down to one possession on a couple of occasions late in the game on a Shelton 3-pointer with 6:30 play. Shelton led the Panthers with 15 points.
Stapleton his the first of two big 3-pointers came 1:41 to play cutting the lead to four at 53-49. Shelton and Stapleton scored the next five points for EIU including Stapleton's second 3-pointer with 36 seconds left to put EIU up 54-53. Stapleton had ten points.
Little Rock hit one of two at the free throw line on the next possession before Shelton was fouled driving the lane on the Panthers last possession. He converted both free throws to finish with 15 points going 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Kooper Jacobi just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds as EIU finished with a 33-24 rebound advantage including 11 offensive rebounds.
Isaiah Lewis had 11 points and Gatkek finished with ten to round out the Trojans double figure scorers.