PEORIA, Ill. – Mack Smith knocked down six 3-pointers including three during an 11-2 second half run as Eastern Illinois knocked off Bradley, 73-66, on Saturday night at Carver Arena.
EIU won its third straight improving to 6-5 on the season. Bradley fell to 7-4.
Smith began to catch fire midway through the second half as he hit back-to-back 3-pointers at the 10:58 mark to spark the Panthers run. Smith added his third 3-pointer during the run and JaQualis Matlock hit a jumper in the lane giving EIU a 58-48 lead.
Bradley would cut into the lead with EIU having an answer for each Braves run. Darrell Brown cut the EIU lead to 64-62 with 1:02 remaining. EIU responded with a dunk by Rade Kukobat as he completed the three point play to put EIU up 67-62.
Shareef Smith and Josiah Wallace would convert at the free throw line in the final 36 seconds to seal the win for EIU. Shareef Smith finished with 12 points. Wallace had 14 points after scoring ten in the first half.
Eastern Illinois held a 27-24 lead late in the first half as the Panthers had balanced scoring to open the first half. EIU was 7-of-12 from 3-point range in the first with five different players knocking down a triple.
EIU then went scoreless for 5:50 as the Braves took advantage for a 12-0 run. Koch Bar had a pair of baskets in the low post to spark the run. EIU would snap the cold shooting with 3-pointers by Josiah Wallace and Ben Harvey in the final minute.
Bradley led 36-33 at the half after pulling out to a 36-27 lead with 1:15 to play in the half on a 3-pointer by Brown. The Braves were 4-of-8 from 3-point range in the first half.
Mack Smith finished with 20 points going 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Harvey had 12 points. EIU finished the game 13-of-24 from 3-point range.
Bar had 13 points to lead Bradley. Brown had 12.
