EIU Men Claim Exhibition Basketball Victory

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Published on November 11 2014 8:07 am
Last Updated on November 11 2014 8:07 am
Written by Millie Lange

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Four players scored in double figures Monday night as Eastern Illinois men’s basketball picked up a 85-54 victory over Saint Francis (Ill.) in exhibition play at Lantz Arena. The Panthers open the regular season Friday night at Missouri State. Prior to the game MSU will honor former head coach Charlie Spoonhour, the father of current EIU head coach Jay Spoonhour.
 
Chris Olivier led the Panthers with a double-double as the junior forward finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Panthers finished with a 37-31 rebound advantage while shooting 54 percent from the floor.
 
Saint Francis opened the game leading 16-8 with 14:13 to go in the first half as Jake Raspopovich drained a 3-pointer. The Saints knocked down 10-of-26 from 3-point range good for 39 percent. USF was not as good inside the 3-point arc shooting just 34 percent for the game.
 
EIU closed the gap and took the lead as LeTrell Viser sank a 3-pointer at 11:17 putting EIU up 20-18. Olivier added two baskets as the Panthers extended the lead to 13 points, 31-18, on Olivier’s lay-up at the 7:32 mark that finished off a 23-8 run.
 
The Panthers would lead 40-32 at the half.
 
EIU once again extended the lead to 13 points to open the second half on a lay-up by Trae Anderson and 3-pointer by Josh Piper. Saint Francis trimmed the lead to 56-49 with 12:38 to play on a lay-up by Iain Morison.
 
The Panthers responded drawing fouls down low as Keenen Anderson and Trae Anderson both went to the line and sank a pair of free throws. Trae Anderson’s free throws at 10:15 pushed the Panthers lead to double figures and EIU never looked back.
 
Reggie Smith led all scorers with 17 points for EIU. Viser and Keenen Anderson both added 11 points off the bench.
 
Edvinas Presniakovas led Saint Francis with 12 points. Jens Kennedy added 11.