The Panthers hold on to a 62-50 win with four players scoring double digits.

For the second home game in a row EIU saw their opponent make a run to start the  half. 

Eastern entered the second half with a 16 point lead and Tiffin went on their best run of the game scoring eight unanswered points to make it a two point game at the 12 minute mark.

Tiffin was able to get back in the game because Eastern had three offensive possessions in a row that resulted in turnovers.

Redshirt sophomore guard Malik Olafioye drove towards the basket from the left baseline that drew contact for a-and-1 layup to give Eastern a 43-39 lead and their first basket in two minutes. 

With a layup and a pair of free throws from Olafioye, Eastern was back up to six with 11 minutes remaining in the game.

Graduate forward Kooper Jacobi showed his veteran experience in the midst of Tiffin’s comeback attempt with two driving layups down the right lane and making a three at the top of the key to put the game back in double digits for a 55-45 Panthers lead.

Jacobi scored eight points in five minutes that was capped off with a two handed dunk in the paint. 

“I think just learning through adversity, the whole year you’re going to have ups and downs. So just staying together and finishing every game with a win is the goal,” Jacobi said.

Jacobi finished the game with 16 points, nine rebounds shooting 50 percent from the field. 

“He really showed the senior leadership, he settled everybody down, he made some good baskets, [and] got some big rebounds. [He] really did what you think a senior would do for you,” head coach Marty Simmons said. 

The Panthers were aggressive on the offensive end with 34 of their 62 points coming in the paint. 

“That’s our number one thing offensively is getting the paint,” Simmons said. “I think when you get threes from doing that, they are good threes, like we really wanted to build it from the inside out. So that’s something I think we have to continue to be good at.”

Sophomore forward Terry McMorris finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

McMorris says being aggressive on offense is what he and the coaching staff work on everyday. 

“Terry’s had a lot of success here, Terry plays the way Terry should play. He just drives, gets offensive rebounds and he runs in transition,” Simmons said. 

McMorris is coming off a career high 18 points against No. 9 ranked Kentucky, and has been in double digit scoring in three of the five games Eastern have played. 

Junior guard Meechie White stepped up tonight with senior guard Zion Fruster being out with an injury.

“Just being the person I am, keep motivating, talking and bringing the team together when things get tough and maintain the things we talk about, and preach everyday,” White said. 

White added 11 points with four assists and a game high four steals.

“Meechie just facilitates, takes what the defense gives him, doesn’t try to force things,  and I thought he was really solid tonight,” Simmons said. 

White says the coaching staff has been stressing the importance of transition defense throughout the team. 

Eastern shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and a big reason why they had a 16 point lead. 

Eastern held Tiffin to six of 23 on shooting attempts for 26.1 percent  in the first half and 36 percent for the whole game.

The Panthers travel to Conway, Arkansas to face Central Arkansas on Tuesday, tipoff is set for 6:30 pm. 

Cameron Thomas can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].