SIU Edwardsville thumps Eastern Illinois, 80-63

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) Michael Messer poured in 23 points as hot-shooting Southern Illinois-Edwardsville cruised past Eastern Illinois, 80-63 on Saturday night.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for SIU-Edwardsville (10-14, 6-7 OVC), which finished an eight-game stretch that saw the Cougars play six Ohio Valley Conference road games.

Messer set the pace for the Cougars, knocking down 8 of 12 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from long range, and was 4 for 4 from the free throw line. As a team, SIU Edwardsville was 32 of 57 from the floor (56.1 percent), 8 of 20 from beyond the arc and 8 of 12 from the free throw line.

Rozell Nunn had 18 points for the Cougars and Kris Davis and Keaton Jackson added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Dylan Chatman scored 15 points to lead Eastern Illinois (15-11, 8-5). Trae Anderson and Reggie Smith each added 11 points.