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Junior forward Edin Suljic dunks a ball against Illinois College in Lantz Arena Saturday Nov. 8. The Panthers won the exhibition game against the Blueboys 86-66. (Karla Browning/The Daily Eastern News)

Men's Basketball: Panthers host D-III school in home opener

Team to play Spartans for first time in team history

By: Dan Cusack/Assistant Sports Editor

Posted: 11/19/08

The Eastern men's basketball team will host its home opener at 7 tonight at Lantz Arena against Division III opponent Manchester College. Eastern head coach Mike Miller said he told his team the home game against the Spartans is one thing the team has been preparing for from the start of practice.

"I told our guys today, you only get one chance to play a home opener and this is it," Miller said. "We need to come out ready to play. I think our guys are excited about doing it."

Eastern junior guard Romain Martin said he looks forward to playing in front of a home crowd, and the home opener is a game he is always happy about.

The Panthers dropped their season opener Saturday when they lost to Ball State 72-59 in Muncie, Ind. Eastern was down early 23-6, but played well in the second half, getting themselves within six points with just more than four minutes remaining. The Panthers' defense toughened up as they allowed the Cardinals to shoot 57 percent in the first half, but limited them to 27 percent in the second half.

"We just focused on what they were doing," Martin said. "In the first half, they were making shots. We knew coming in they weren't a very good 3-point shooting team. In the second half, we tried to keep everything out of the paint."

Miller said the Panthers had two problems in the first half against Ball State: turnovers and a lack of rebounding. He said his team fixed those problems in the second half.

"We turned it over a couple of times and gave (the Cardinals) some layups," Miller said. "The other thing is, we didn't rebound the fist half, and they got a couple tip-ins. We minimized those things and kept them in front of us a little better."

Martin led the Panthers with 19 points against Ball State, while junior forward Edin Suljic added 12 points and four rebounds.

Senior forward Billy Parish came off the bench for the Panthers and finished a perfect 6-6 from the field finishing with 12 points and five rebounds.

Manchester, a Division III school, (1-0) comes into this game with a 79-65 win against Alma College.

The Spartans shot well from the field hitting 52 percent of their field goal attempts.

Manchester is led by sophomore guard Tyler Henn, who finished with 17 points, five rebounds and five steals in the win.

Mitch Schaefer also played well against Alma, adding 18 points and six rebounds.

Miller said the Spartans' offense is a combination of the offenses Eastern Kentucky and Samford run both teams some of Eastern's players have played against.

He said he found out Tuesday morning Manchester switched to that offense from what they had done in past games.

"It's going to be something we haven't seen other than our guys that returned from a year ago," Miller said. "It's going to be a game that's probably going to help us because we're going to get a chance to see these things. It's probably going to be difficult because it's a different style."

Martin said the Spartans typically play a zone defense that Eastern could attack with its 3-point shooters.

Eastern has won its last two home openers. Since 1981-82, they are 23-4 in their first home game. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.