Crossland scores 18 points and Eastern Illinois wins 68-56 (Feb 24, 2018)
CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) Ray Crossland made three 3-pointers and scored 18 points and Eastern Illinois defeated SIU-Edwardsville 68-56 on Saturday in a regular-season finale.
Eastern Illinois (11-18, 7-11) will go into the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the seventh seed while the Cougars (9-20, 5-13) will go as the eighth seed, which they secured before the game when Eastern Kentucky lost to Morehead State. SIUE hasn't been to the OVC Tournament since the 2014-15 season. EIU last played in the tournament in 2016.
Muusa Dama, Montell Goodwin and Mack Smith scored 12 points apiece for the Panthers, who swept the season series.
Jalen Henry had three 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Cougars with Keenan Simmons adding 12 points and 11 rebounds and Christian Ellis 10 points.
A 14-0 run, with six points from Crossland, gave EIU a 63-50 lead with a minute to go.
