SIUE ends season with 78-59 win over Eastern Illinois

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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Burak Eslik scored 22 points and SIU Edwardsville closed out its season by snapping a 15-game losing streak, winning its first conference game of the year 78-59 over Eastern Illinois on Saturday night.

The game was also the season finale for Eastern Illinois, as neither team qualified for the Ohio Valley Tournament.

Josh White finished with 20 points and Jalen Henry added 13 for the Cougars (6-24, 1-15), who held a plus-11 advantage on the glass and forced 16 Panthers turnovers.

Muusa Dama scored 18 points to lead Eastern Illinois (14-15, 6-10). The Panthers made just 17 total field goals and finished 3 of 14 from long distance.

SIU-Edwardsville took a double-digit lead on a jumper by White with 14:47 left. Eastern Illinois kept the deficit within a manageable distance until an 8-0 run by the Cougars pushed it to 15, 68-53, and put the game out of reach.