EIU Wins Fourth Straight Game

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Published on February 2 2016 10:15 am
Last Updated on February 2 2016 10:15 am
Written by Millie Lange

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois won its fourth straight game stepping out of Ohio Valley Conference play on Monday night to pick up a 101-59 win over Saint Ambrose in Lantz Arena.  It marked the first time since Dec. 22, 2009 that EIU has scored 100 or more points in a game.
 
The Panthers improved to 10-13 overall and will host Southeast Missouri at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning in a game televised on the American Sports Network.  Saint Ambrose is 7-14.
 
Demetrius McReynolds provided the offensive spark the Panthers needed in the first half scoring 18 of his 22 points before intermission.  McReynolds opened an extended run by the Panthers with nine straight points helping break open a two point game.  A jumper by Sam Ainsworth brought SAU within two points at 24-22 with 7:58 to play in the first.  McReynolds scored EIU’s next nine points pushing the Panthers lead to seven after a jumper with 6:07 to play.
 
A three point play by Joe Kuligoski gave the Panthers their first double digit lead at 38-28 with 5:17 to play.  McReynolds would close out the half with a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining that gave EIU a 48-35 halftime lead.
 
Jacob Posley’s 3-pointer early in the second half cut EIU’s lead to 12 points with 19:12 to play.  SAU made just one more 3-pointer the remainder of the game finishing the half 1-of-13 and 7-of-27 for the game from behind the arc.
 
A pair of buckets by McReynolds and six straight points by Trae Anderson pushed the Panthers lead to twenty points with 17:56 to play and EIU never looked back.  Anthony Johnson and A.J. Riley both came off the bench to score 14 points as EIU had 13 of 14 players in uniform score.  The Panthers ended the night shooting 57 percent from the floor.
 
Eric Dust led Saint Ambrose with 13 points including hitting two 3-pointers that gave the Fighting Bees a 6-0 lead to open the game.  Posley added ten points.