Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois used a key 11-0 run in the opening half to build a 25-16 lead.  The Panthers extended that to as high as 18 points in the second half before posting a 65-57 win over Nicholls in the second game of the BBN United Tipoff Classic.
 
Nicholls opened the game with a run of their own posting a nine point early lead.   EIU answered with an 11-0 run of their own with five straight baskets.  Kooper Jacobi played a factor in all five scoring two and assisting on the other three.  He finished with nine points, nine rebounds and five assists.
 
Zion Fruster triggered the Panthers offense most of the night scoring 12 in the opening half and finishing with a game-high 25 points.  
 
In the second half the Panthers used a second 11-0 run to build an 18-point lead at 42-24 with 11:16 to play.  Andrew Austin started the run with a pair of free throws and Fruster ended the run at the line.  EIU went 22-of-29 from the stripe in the contest.
 
Nicholls would not go away using the outside shooting of Zae Hamoda to knock down a pair of 3-pointers with Jaylen Searles bringing the Colonels within three with free throws with 7:57 left in the game.
 
Meechie White pushed the lead back to five with free throws before Nicholls cut the lead to three points one additional time on a Searles lay-up.  Searles led Nicholls with 20 points.  Trae English added 17 for Nicholls which fell to 0-2.
 
A jumper by Jacobi and 3-pointer by Fruster pushed the lead back to a comfortable margin as EIU improved to 1-1 on the season.  Terrry McMorris just missed his second straight double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds.