Hot-handed Panthers end Colonels' tourney
Eastern Illinois shoots a scalding 61 percent from the field, beating Eastern 68-61 in OVC tournament
Langdon Barnes
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Sports
The Colonels season came to an end Tuesday night in the opening round of the OVC tournament after running into an Eastern Illinois team that had a hot hand, almost for the entire night.
Eastern Illinois, a fourth seed in the conference tournament, shot a season-high 61.5 percent from the field to beat the fifth-seeded Colonels 68-61.
"They hit unbelievable shot tonight," said Papa Oppong. "They came out and were hitting everything."
The Panthers (19-11) have now won eight straight games and advance to the OVC semifinals in Nashville, where they'll face the OVC regular season champion Murray State.
Eastern (20-12) was led by Junior Justin Stommes's 14 points. Stommes scored 11 of his points in the first half. Junior Spencer Perrin and senior Oppong scored 13 points each for the Colonels.
Eastern shot only 41 percent (25-for-61) from the field. The Colonels were 8-of-25 from behind the arc.
Eastern trailed by only one before the Panthers went on a 10-2 run late in the second half to take a 64-55 lead with 2:13 left to play.
The Colonels were able to cut it to three, 64-61, and needed one more defensive stop. Eastern Illinois found a way to run down the shot clock and hit a jumpshot to take the lead for good.
"I thought we played real hard and together for 40 minutes," Coach Jeff Neubauer said . "They gave a lot of effort tonight."
The game might be the last for the team's seniors: Dayvon Ellis, Antonio Gilkey, Robin Mestdagh, Oppong, and Josh Taylor.
"These guys have been incredible teammates for their careers," said Coach Neubauer. "You have to really feel for them, they played real hard tonight."
The Colonels still have a chance of being invited to one of the post-season tournaments, and Eastern's players said they would enjoy the chance to continue their season.
"I would love to keep playing," said Oppong. "It would be real nice to get into another tournament."
Eastern Illinois, a fourth seed in the conference tournament, shot a season-high 61.5 percent from the field to beat the fifth-seeded Colonels 68-61.
"They hit unbelievable shot tonight," said Papa Oppong. "They came out and were hitting everything."
The Panthers (19-11) have now won eight straight games and advance to the OVC semifinals in Nashville, where they'll face the OVC regular season champion Murray State.
Eastern (20-12) was led by Junior Justin Stommes's 14 points. Stommes scored 11 of his points in the first half. Junior Spencer Perrin and senior Oppong scored 13 points each for the Colonels.
Eastern shot only 41 percent (25-for-61) from the field. The Colonels were 8-of-25 from behind the arc.
Eastern trailed by only one before the Panthers went on a 10-2 run late in the second half to take a 64-55 lead with 2:13 left to play.
The Colonels were able to cut it to three, 64-61, and needed one more defensive stop. Eastern Illinois found a way to run down the shot clock and hit a jumpshot to take the lead for good.
"I thought we played real hard and together for 40 minutes," Coach Jeff Neubauer said . "They gave a lot of effort tonight."
The game might be the last for the team's seniors: Dayvon Ellis, Antonio Gilkey, Robin Mestdagh, Oppong, and Josh Taylor.
"These guys have been incredible teammates for their careers," said Coach Neubauer. "You have to really feel for them, they played real hard tonight."
The Colonels still have a chance of being invited to one of the post-season tournaments, and Eastern's players said they would enjoy the chance to continue their season.
"I would love to keep playing," said Oppong. "It would be real nice to get into another tournament."
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