EIU Men Win Exhibition Game

Print

Published on November 7 2012 6:17 am
Last Updated on November 7 2012 6:17 am
Written by Millie Lange

CHARLESTON – Eastern Illinois opened the game with a 15-5 run and never looked back as EIU beat Trinity International, 87-34, on Monday in the Panthers lone exhibition game of the season. EIU opens the regular season this Friday at Bradley under new head coach Jay Spoonhour.

Freshman Alex Austin was 4-of-4 in the opening half with 10 points as he was one of three Panthers in double figures scoring 13 points. Austin finished 5-of-7 from the field including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

R.J. McGhee, Taylor Jones, Malcolm Herron and Cameron Harvey all hit 3-pointers prior to the second media timeout of the first half as EIU led 18-5 at 12:27. The Panthers extended that lead to 46-13 at the half. EIU had 22 points off of 16 Trinity first half turnovers.

“Our guys did a nice job of concentrating tonight,” said Spoonhour following the win. “When the score gets lopsided like it did tonight teams tend to relax and build bad habits.  We didn’t play perfect tonight but our guys stayed focused and played hard until the end.”

EIU extended its second half lead to 50 points on a Josh Piper jumper. The margin remained 50 or more points for the remainder of the game growing to 57 points with 1:16 left on an Alex Lubsey lay-up.

Herron led all players with 14 points hitting 5-of-8 from the floor. Piper added 11. Sherman Blanford led EIU with eight rebounds as the Panthers dominated play on the glass with a 47-30 advantage. Austin Akers had nine assists with only one turnover. EIU shot 55 percent from the field and held TIU to 21 percent shooting.