EIU Downs Murray State In Men's Action, Loses Women's Contest

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men’s basketball used a 16-0 run near the end of the contest on Thursday night as the Panthers stormed back for the second straight year to beat Murray State at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena. The Panthers picked up their second straight Ohio Valley Conference win with a 74-68 win.

EIU improved to 5-5 overall, 2-1 in the OVC.  Murray State fell to 4-6 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.

The Racers led 38-33 at the half after shooting 52 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.  Chico Carter Jr., has 13 of his 15 points in the opening half.

Devin Gilmore’s lay-up with 13:40 to play put Murray State up 13 at 53-40.  EIU would make a couple of small charges in the game over the next six minutes closing to within two points on Josiah Wallace free throws with 7:02 remaining.   Wallace posted his first career double-double finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Murray State would extend its lead back out to eight points two times over the next three minutes with DaQuan Smith draining a 3-pointer and Tevin Brown making a jumper with 4:33 remaining that put the Racers up 64-56. EIU would score the next 16 points to take the lead.

EIU’s defense would pick up steals on five straight possessions leading to fast-break buckets as Kashawn Charles and Marvin Johnson both converted twice during the run. Johnson led EIU with 20 points.

KJ Williams would end the run with a bucket with 33 seconds remaining in the game as EIU led 70-66. EIU would hit four of its final six free throws to ice the game.

Charles had three of the Panthers nine steals in the game while Mack Smith returned to the line-up and knocked down a 3-pointer to extend his streak to 90 straight games with a made 3-pointer.

Murray State shot 40 percent in the second half as Williams (13 points) and Brown (11 points) both finished in double figures.

Women -- Murray State 76, EIU 68

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois (3-6 overall, 1-3 OVC) dropped its third game-in-a-row against Murray State (4-3 overall, 1-1 OVC), 76-68 Thursday.

The Panthers started off hot but lost their momentum after the first quarter, while the Racers never slowed down. Abby Wahl finished the day with 20 points and Lariah Washington was able to notch her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Eastern Illinois will try to right the ship against Austin Peay on Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.

QUICK STATS

Lariah Washington records her second double-double of the season

Panthers fall to 2-5 when the opponent has more turnovers

Panthers outscored their opponent in the paint for the sixth time

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

Eastern Illinois and Murray State started off at an astounding pace. Wahl was off to a quick start as she finished the quarter with eight points shooting 4 of 6 from the field. The Panthers shot 55% from the field in the first quarter and looked to continue their quick pace. Panthers led 25-23.

The second period saw both teams with a stark drop-off from the great shooting in the first. The Panthers shot 33% from the field on the quarter; the Racers shot 23% from the field. Kira Arthofer and Washington both led the Panthers in scoring in the quarter with 4-points-a-piece. Murray State guard, Macey Turley, got off and running in the second. She led Murray State with five points in the quarter. Eastern Illinois led going into halftime, 40-34.

The second half continued to be a burden for EIU as it shot 38% from the field and allowed the Racers to score 20 points. Jordyn Hughes gave the Panthers a spark off of the bench, but Eastern couldn't get a run going. Wahl led the Panthers with  four points in the quarter. The Racers took the lead, 54-51.

The Panthers stayed close to the Racers throughout as Wahl and Karle Pace put up six points-a-piece. It was a back and forth battle between both teams in the quarter, but the Racers stopped any sort of momentum the Panthers could muster. Costly turnovers late became the end of Eastern Illinois as it dropped its third game-in-a-row.