EIU, SIUE Claim Men's Basketball Wins

Wallace was 8-of-10 from the floor including 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the opening half as EIU shot 59 percent from the floor to build a 57-37 halftime lead.  Leading 22-15 with 12:39 to play in the first half, Wallace and Kashawn Charles both drained 3-pointers to spark a 10-0 EIU run that gave the Panthers a commanding lead.

George Dixon had a lay-up with 8:37 to play in the first to put EIU up 20 points at 37-17.  EIU would push its lead out to as many as 26 points as Mack Smith sank a 3-pointer with 3:38 to play in the half.  Smith knocked down three 3-pointers in the game as he extended his consecutive games streak with a made 3-pointer to 68 games.  Smith finished with 17 points.

UT Martin closed the half on a 5-0 run to give the Skyhawks some momentum into the second half.  Parker Stewart hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left in the half as he finished the game with 27 points.

In the second half UTM would whittle the Panthers lead down to single digits with 8:34 left in the game as Stewart hit a pair of free throws to trim EIU’s lead to 77-68.

Shareef Smith and Dixon responded with lay-ups to push EIU’s lead back out to double figures where it would remain for the rest of the contest.  Dixon just missed a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds.  Shareef Smith had ten points.  Wallace led EIU with 22 points as EIU shot 54 percent for the game.

Quintin Dove joined Stewart for top scoring honors in the game with 27 points for UTM going 10-of-14 from the field. 

SIUE 84, Southeast Missouri 65

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE put it all together Thursday and blasted Southeast Missouri 84-65 in an Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball game at the First Community Arena in the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars, snapping a five-game skid, clicked on all cylinders in improving to 5-15 overall and 2-5 in the OVC. The Redhawks sank to 4-16 and 0-7. They have lost seven in a row and are 0-10 on the road this season.

"We had a good mindset going into the game and tonight we started off well and sustained it the whole game," SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone said.
Mike Adewunmi and Tyresse Willfiord made sure the Cougars kept humming. Adewunmi scored a career-high 23 points, while Williford contributed 22 points and equaled his season best with nine assists. Adewunmi was particularly effective with his shooting, converting 7 of 9 shots, including 4 of 5 from 3-point land.

"My teammates did a great job getting me the ball and I developed a rhythm," Adewunmi said of his scorching shooting. "I would say it's the best game I've had this year. I was playing hard, hitting my shots and getting rebounds. I ended up with a great night."

So did Williford. He stoked the offense with his shooting and passing. The Cougars hit 35 of 58 shots and registered 19 assists on those baskets. They connected on 5 of 16 attempts from 3-point range, sank 9 of 15 free throws and outrebounded SEMO 43-30. The Redhawks made 22 of 55 shots, but were just 8 of 25 from beyond the arch. They hit on 13 of 19 foul shots. Alex Caldwell led them with 15 points.

"It started in practice this week," Williford said of the Cougars' robust effort. "We worked on some things and we executed them. Tonight, we started off strong and then we maintained what we did in the first half. I was proud of that."
Adewunmi added, "Coach did a good job in practice preparing us for this game. We played with discipline and the right way. It's no surprise we played that way the whole game."

Barone like the Cougars' consistency and their sense of urgency.

"I thought we'd make a good play, then we would make another one," he said. "It was a business-like approach and we sustained it."
Cam Williams chipped in with 10 rebounds and seven points, while Brandon Jackson collected eight points and seven rebounds. No fewer than nine Cougars produced points.

SIUE set the tempo in the first half by building an insurmountable 38-18 advantage. Adewunmi and Williford each scored 11 points to pace the Cougars, who used a 15-4 binge to close the half. SEMO didn't make a field goal the final 7 minutes, 36 seconds of the half.  The Redhawks were just 5 of 23 from the field.
Adewunmi hit three consecutive 3-pointers to spur SIUE in the first half. Williford connected on 5 of 9 shots and had four assists in the first period. 

SIUE stays at home Saturday for a 4:30 date with UT Martin (5-13, 1-6) to complete a four-game home swing. The Cougars then hit the road for games at OVC co-leaders Austin Peay (Jan. 30) and Murray State (Jan. 31).