After struggling from the field in their season-opener, the Eastern men’s basketball team’s hot shooting scorched the Evansville Purple Aces Sunday at Lantz Arena during a 79-74 victory.

The Panthers (1-1) torched the Purple Aces (2-1) by shooting 54 percent from the floor for the game, including a 66.7 field-goal percentage in the first half of the home opener. The numbers starkly contrast their offensive output when the team opened the year losing at DePaul 53-51, while shooting 37 percent from the field.

Panther head coach Rick Samuels said his team’s defense against Evansville was every bit as important as its shooting.

“We kept their score just low enough for us to win,” Samuels said.

The Panthers held the Purple Aces well below their 93.5 points per game average amassed in their first two games.

Senior guard Emanuel Dildy led all scorers with a career-high 24 points. Dildy also tied personal bests with five three-point field goals and six assists. Junior guard Josh Gomes scored 23 points and sophomore guard Cortez Forte added 12 rounding out Panthers with double-digit scoring efforts.

Dildy said their offensive explosion had a lot to do with a more open paint against Evansville.

“It was a lot more open,” Dildy said. “(Evansville) doesn’t have 6-foot-10 guys clogging up the lane.”

Against the Blue Demons, the Panthers struggled to control the area around the basket, allowing 32 points in the paint. DePaul held Eastern to just 10 points in the key.

But against Evansville, the Panthers outscored the Purple Aces 32-28 inside the paint.

Samuels said patience helped open things up on the offensive end.

“We had more deliberate offensive possessions,” he said. ” We had a two or three-pass rule, where you wait a little more to shoot.”

While the Panthers offense regrouped, the team was beaten on the offensive glass for the second time in as many games. DePaul had 12 offensive rebounds to Eastern’s eight, while Evansville out-rebounded the Panthers on the offensive glass 25-7.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of box-out drills,” Dildy said.

One bright spot on the glass for the Panthers was freshman center George Tandy. Tandy’s nine rebounds against Evansville was a game-high, and his two offensive boards resulted in points – including a thunderous two-handed tip-dunk off of a Gomes miss.

“I just go get it,” Tandy said. “If it’s a tip-dunk, I’ll put it down.

“If it’s in someone else’s hands, I’ll take it.”

The Panthers continue early-season play Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. in Lantz Arena when they host the University of Missouri-Kansas City.