Eastern Illinois Picks Up Road Win

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Published on December 5 2016 1:40 pm
Last Updated on December 5 2016 1:40 pm

Cornell Johnston scored 21 points including five straight that stopped a UIC second half surge as Eastern Illinois picked up a 90-76 road win on Sunday afternoon at UIC.

EIU improved to 5-3 on the season and will play at Northern Kentucky on Wednesday.  UIC fell to 4-4 on the year.

Leading 41-30 at the half the Panthers opened the second half on a 12-3 run with Montell Goodwin knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers that pushed the Panthers lead to 53-33 with 17:25 to play.  Goodwin was one of four EIU players in double figures finishing with 19 points, all in the second half.

EIU led by as many as 23 points with 14:24 to play in the second half on a 3-pointer by Casey Teson.  EIU was 8-of-12 from 3-point range in the second half and 12-of-22 for the game finishing at 54.5 percent.

UIC slowly chipped away at the big lead by getting to the foul line and getting points in transition.  UIC was 23-of-34 from the free throw line for the game including 14-of-18 in the second half.  A 3-pointer by Dominique Matthews with 4:34 to play cut the Panthers lead down to ten points at 73-63.

Johnston answered with a 3-pointer on the next EIU possession and following a Panthers steal on the defensive end of the floor, Johnston hit a runner in the lane.  Johnston added another 3-pointer and a pair of free throws in the final three minutes of the game.  Johnston led all players with 21 points adding nine assists.

As a team EIU was 9-fo-10 from the free throw line in both halves finishing 18-of-20.  Goodwin was 7-of-8 at the stripe.  Teson was 4-of-4 from the foul line finishing with 12 points.  Ray Crossland was the fourth EIU player in double figures with 11 points.

After being out-rebounded by Bradley on Tuesday by 23 rebounds, the Panthers attacked the glass.  EIU finished the game with a 46-37 rebound margin.  Aboubacar Diallo pulled down a career high 14 rebounds while Patrick Muldoon added a career high 10 rebounds.

Marcus Ottey was the Flames top scorer with 16 points off the bench.  The Panthers held Dikembe Dixson to ten points.