MACOMB, Ill. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday evening, Eastern Illinois secured a 71-59 victory over Western Illinois, thanks in large part to Artese Stapleton, who scored 16 points.
Stapleton also contributed six rebounds for the Panthers, who improved their season record to 7-15, with a conference standing of 3-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Nakyel Shelton followed closely behind with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Kooper Jacobi made a significant impact by scoring 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting, including 3 of 6 from the charity stripe.

On the other side of the court, the Leathernecks, now at 8-14 overall and 2-9 in the conference, saw notable performances from Trey Deveaux, Massal Diouf, and another player named Massal Diouf, each contributing 14 points.
This loss marks the seventh consecutive defeat for Western Illinois, creating a challenging stretch for the team.
Both squads are set to return to the court on Saturday, with Eastern Illinois heading to Lindenwood for their next game, while Western Illinois will host SIU-Edwardsville.