SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The 19th nationally-ranked University of St. Francis was unable to overcome an early opening-half deficit to Eastern Illinois in this Friday's (Nov. 22) opening round of the University of Incarnate Word Invitational as the Saints dropped an 87-47 exhibition matchup to the Panthers at UIW's McDermott Center.
 

EIU, a NCAA Division I program, started the contest by scoring the first 11 points and would extend their lead to 35 points (46-11) with 6:17 remaining before the half as the Panthers went on a 19-0 run.
 

Trailing 53-23 at halftime, the Saints could never get any closer than 28 points on two occasions in the second half with the last occuring at 13:22 mark.
 

Guard Eric Ting (JR/Taoyuan, Taiwan) was the only USF player to score double figures with 10 points. Guard Cole Micek (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) contributed nine points while forward Mitch Kwasigroch (SR/Manhattan, Ill.), and Jarret Gmazel (SR/Manhattan, Ill.) each added six. Guard Joey Buggemi (SO/Frankfort, Ill.)'s four rebounds was tops for the Saints, who were outrebounded by a 56-19 count. Guard Malik Bailey (SR/Tutwiler, Miss.) dished out a team-high three assists while guard Carlos Tovias (JR/Corsicana, Texas) compiled a game-high tying three steals as 15 players saw action for the Saints.
 

For the game, USF connected on 25% (15-60) from the floor and was 11-of-33 (33.3%) from three-point field goal range. The Saints converted six-of-eight free throw attempts for a 75% efficiency mark.
 

EIU, which was led by Mack Smith's game-high 18 points along with a 15-point, 11-rebound performance from George Dixon, went 57.6% from the floor (34-59) and drained nine-of-18 three-points for a 50% success rate. At the charity stripe, the Panthers were 10-of-16 for 62.5%.  
 

In bench scoring, Eastern Illinois outscored the Saints 33-19 while the Panthers' tallied 17 second-chance points to USF's nine total. EIU dominated the Saints in the paint as evidenced by a 42-2 margin. USF was able to register 11 points off 20 EIU turnovers and the Panthers forced the Saints into 15 turnovers which resulted in 19 points scored.
 

The win represented EIU's third straight as the Panthers improved their season record to 3-2 overall.
 

Up Next

USF continues exhibition action at the Incarnate Word Invitational this Saturday (Nov. 23) morning at 10 a.m. (CT) as the Saints square off against host and NCAA Division I foe the Incarnate Word Cardinals. Incarnate Word dropped an 83-58 decision to Bethune-Cookman in its tourney first-round contest.