CHARLESTON, Ill. — In an impressive display of skill, Artese Stapleton scored 17 points as Eastern Illinois overwhelmed Earlham with a decisive 97-61 victory on Wednesday night.

Stapleton contributed significantly beyond scoring, providing eight assists during the game for the Panthers, who now hold a record of 1-1. Kooper Jacobi was another standout player, netting 16 points while shooting 41.7% from the floor. His shooting prowess included two successful three-point attempts out of four and he maintained an unblemished record at the free-throw line, hitting all four of his attempts. In addition, Jacobi grabbed 11 rebounds and collected three steals.

Zion Fruster also joined in on the scoring action, finishing the game with 15 points. He made 7 out of his 13 attempts from the field, including one out of four from beyond the arc.

On the opposing side, Ken Walker led the Quakers with 17 points and contributed two steals to his team’s efforts. Noah Gathings added to the team’s total with 12 points, but their performance couldn’t keep pace with Eastern Illinois’ dominant showing.