EIU Beats E. Kentucky, EIU Women Lose, SIUE Wins

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Published on January 15 2016 12:11 pm
Last Updated on January 15 2016 12:11 pm
Written by Millie Lange

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Nine total players scored in double figures.  Two players posted double-doubles.  At the end of the night Eastern Illinois walked away with a 97-85 shootout win over Eastern Kentucky in a game televised nationally on CBS Sports Net Thursday night in Lantz Arena.
 
The win pushed EIU’s record to 5-12 overall, 2-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference.  The Panthers will host Morehead State on Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. to wrap up play against the OVC East Division.  EKU dropped to 11-8 overall, 2-2 in the OVC.
 
Demetrius McReynolds posted his second double-double of the season as the junior had the hot hand in the first half leading EIU to a 55-44 lead at the break.  McReynolds scored 19 of his career high 27 points in the first half as he finished the night 5-of-8 from 3-point range.  He added 10 rebounds as the Panthers held the advantage on the glass by a 31-27 margin.
 
Freshman Nick Mayo held EKU in the game with 16 of his 23 points in the first half as the Colonels played a majority of the first half without the services of the OVC scoring leader, Jarelle Reischel.  Reischel had three first half fouls and picked up his fourth early in the second half as he finished with 10 points, half of his season average.
 
The Colonels actually shot better from the field than EIU in the first half as EKU connected for 63 percent from the field.  EIU hit 57 percent from the field in the opening half but was 9-of-15 from 3-point range.
 
After Greg King tied the game at 32-32 with 8:13 to play in the first, EIU went on a 9-0 run to give themselves a little breathing room.  Casey Teson and McReynolds connected on 3-pointers with Trae Anderson capping the run with an old fashioned three point play.  Teson was one of five EIU players in double figures with 12 points.  Anderson just missed joining the group with nine points.


Morehead State 70, SIUE 67 (OT)

Despite an SIUE Division I record 40 points from Burak Eslik, SIUE men's basketball dropped a 70-67 overtime heart-breaker to Morehead State Thursday night at Vadalabene Center.

SIUE has lost seven consecutive games and is now 3-14 overall and 0-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Morehead State improved to 9-7 overall and 3-1 in the OVC.

After finishing regulation time at a 62-all tie, the Cougars struck first with Eslik knocking down a pair of free throws. Morehead State tied the game on a running layup from Anthony Elechi. Carlos Anderson answered for the Cougars with a three-pointer from the right corner to move SIUE in front 67-64.

It was 67-66 when Anderson got a look from the left corner. After burying another three-pointer it appeared the Cougars had taken a 70-66 lead with 2:21 to play. After an official review, referees ruled that the shot clock had expired before Anderson got the shot off. The Eagles scored the final four points of the game for the win.

"Our guys put together a 40-minute game from start to finish," SIUE Head Coach Jon Harris said. "We're continuing to take steps even though our record may not show that. You never feel good about a loss, but we feel positive about the way we're growing."
 


Eastern Kentucky 75 EIU Women 56

Halle Stull earned her first career double-dobule with 11 points and 11 rebounds for Eastern Illinois Thursday night, but Eastern Kentucky took advantage of EIU's cold shooting and pulled away late for a 75-56 win over the Panthers. The Colonels took advantage of Panther turnovers scoring 20 points off of EIU's 20 turnovers.

With the loss EIU falls to 1-16 overall and 0-5 in the OVC while EKU improves to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in the OVC.

It was a very tight contest between the two teams in the first quarter as the Panthers and the Colonels fought for the lead. Erica Brown was fouled making a layup at the 6:18 mark in the first quarter. Brown made the bucket and free-throw to put EIU up 8-4, their largest lead of the game. EKU would answer with a 7-2 run as a three-pointer from the Colonel's Alexus Cooper gave EKU an 11-10 lead with 2:54 left in the period. Cooper finished the game leading all scorers with 22 points. The quarter would come to a close with both teams tied at 12 and each team shooting below 40 percent.

The Colonels raced out to start the second quarter going on a 10-1 run to open the period finally ended by a three-point bucket from Carmen Tellez as EKU held a 22-16 advantage with 5:12 left to play in the first half. EKU extended their lead throughout the remainder of the second quarter to as high as 11 points following a jumper from Michaela Hunter at the 2:18 mark with the Colonels up 30-19. Stull scored the final five points in the half to cut the score to 30-24 going into halftime.

EIU only shot 29.6 percent in the first half but out-rebounded the Colonels 25-16.