CHARLESTON, Ill. — On Thursday night, Nakyel Shelton made a significant impact by scoring 25 points in Eastern Illinois’ 71-60 victory over Little Rock.
Shelton also contributed with four steals, helping the Panthers achieve an 11-19 overall record and a 7-12 standing within the Ohio Valley Conference. Teammate Artese Stapleton was also a formidable player, scoring 23 points with a shooting accuracy of 8 out of 11 field goals and 6 out of 7 free throws. Furthermore, Stapleton secured five rebounds and matched Shelton’s four steals. Adding to the Panthers’ effort, Kooper Jacobi scored 12 points, made 5 of 13 shots from the field, 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, and 1 of 4 from the free-throw line.
Little Rock’s Trojans, with a record of 18-12 overall and 12-7 in conference play, saw Jordan Jefferson as their top scorer with 15 points, along with three steals. Mwani Wilkinson also contributed significantly with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Additionally, Johnathan Lawson supported Little Rock’s lineup by putting up 12 points and achieving two steals.
This game emphasized the strong performances from both teams but ultimately ended in a solid win for Eastern Illinois, thanks mainly to Shelton’s outstanding display.
