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KALAMAZOO -- David Kool missed a short jumper in the lane and Donald Lawson missed on the follow up dunk attempt as Western Michigan fell to Eastern Illinois, 59-57, during ESPNU BracketBusters in front of 2,894 at University Arena on Saturday.
Shawntes Gary hit a pair of free throws with 1:19 remaining to even the game, 55-55, but Jeremy Granger tipped in his own miss for the Panthers (12-15) and was fouled. He converted the free throw to put EIU up, 58-55, with 1:06 to play. The Broncos (9-17) answered with a pair of Kool free throws with 50 seconds remaining to pull back within one, 58-57.
Lawson blocked a shot and Michael Redell picked up the rebound to give WMU an opportunity to take the lead, but Gary missed a shot in the paint. The Broncos fouled, but EIU hit only one free throw to set up Kool. He went coast-to-coast, spun in the lane and missed a short floater and Lawson couldn't control the rebound on the follow dunk.
Kool hit five three-pointers and led all players with 26 points, 23 of those coming in the second half, Gary added eight points and six rebounds and Lawson recorded a game-high nine rebounds.
The Broncos suffered from an off shooting night by hitting 7-of-32 three-pointers and just 16-of-53 shots for the game, but they did hold the Panthers to only .375 shooting (18-48) and 3-of-12 from three. Both teams shot well at the line as WMU connected on 18-of-22 (.818) and EIU hit 20-of-24 (.833).
The first half was back-and-forth with three ties and three lead changes before EIU exploded for a 13-2 run over 5:28 to build an eight-point edge, 23-15, with 2:08 to go in the half. The Broncos stiffened and held EIU without a point for the rest of the half and closed within four behind two free throws each from Gary and LaMarcus Lowe.
The Broncos came out in the second half and went on a 19-10 run to build a five-point lead, 38-33, behind 11 points from Kool in the first seven minutes. The Panthers cut the lead back to three, but Kool hit another jumper in the paint to keep the lead at five, 40-35, with 11:28 to play. Kool buried another three-pointer two minutes later off a feed from Demetrius Ward to put WMU up five again, 45-40, with 9:47 to play.
EIU had another run as it strung together seven-straight points over 1:09 to regain the lead, 47-45, with 8:11 to play. The Panthers continued to keep WMU at bay and built a six-point edge after T.J. Marion rebounded a desperation three-point airball by Tyler Laser and converted the reverse layup with 4:53 to play, 55-49. The Broncos answered with the next six points on two free throws by Kool and turnaround jumper by Lawson and Gary's free throws to set the stage for the final moments.
The Broncos outrebounded the Panthers, 39-29, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. The Broncos also overcame poor shooting with just 10 turnovers and only one in the second half.
The Panthers had four players in double figures led by Ousmane Cisse with 13 points, Romain Martin with 12 and Marion and Billy Parrish with 11 each.
The Broncos are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. in DeKalb, Ill., against Northern Illinois.
