Each one of the 1,286 fans that packed Lantz Arena Tuesday night realized one fact – Eastern was simply out-hustled by a bigger team.

Illinois-Chicago out-rebounded the Panthers 43-27 on Tuesday night at Lantz which was a crucial aspect to its 77-60 win over Eastern.

Being a young team, Eastern head coach Rick Samuels mentioned boxing out and getting rebounds as a couple of things the team must improve on.

Junior forward Andy Gobczynski was one of the players who admitted the Panthers just got outworked in the post and on the offensive boards.

“Some of their rebounds came before we even left the floor,” Samuels said.

Samuels was referring to two rebounds that were promptly followed by a pair of UIC dunks.

Samuels commented that what hurt them the most were the 12 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points for UIC.

Flames 6-foot-4 forward Armond Williams had 13 total rebounds and five offensive boards which contributed to his 15 total points.

Samuels said some of those rebounds came when one of the Flames’ guards broke down the defense and one of the Panthers had to leave his man to help stop the penetration.

Senior center Jesse Mackinson got into early foul trouble and had to leave the game early in the first half which led to an even greater decrease in rebounding and inside scoring. Mackinson, the Panthers’ only returning starter, ended the evening with a season-low five points.

Even though the 6-foot-8 post presence is the tallest starter on the Panthers, he finished with just two rebounds. Coach Samuels said he expects Mackinson to play more of an outside game and rely on his 12 to 15-foot jumper.

“Jesse is going to be more effective shooting jumpers,” Samuels said. “Opposing centers can’t stick with him in our motion offense.”

When Mackinson received his second foul in the first half, junior Aaron Patterson stepped in and provided defensive intensity off the bench in his Eastern debut. The transfer from Indianapolis, Ind. finished the game with four rebounds in 16 minutes.

Senior forward David Roos only had three rebounds in 17 minutes, which all came on the defensive end.

Ironically, starting point guard Jake Sinclair crashed the glass along with the frontcourt players and despite being the smallest player for the Panthers, the Pana, Ill. native led the Panthers with five rebounds.

Samuels said he would like to see other frontcourt players step up in the post with Mackinson being expected to step outside and shoot more jumpers.

“Jesse is simply trying to do too much right now,” Samuels said.”