Canaan, Murray State top Eastern Illinois 70-49

MURRAY, Ky. (AP) — Isaiah Canaan netted 17 points as Murray State trounced Ohio Valley Conference-rival Eastern Illinois 70-49 Thursday night.

Dexter Fields added 12 points and Ed Daniel 10 with nine rebounds for the Racers (13-4, 4-1), who have won four of their past five.

Murray State drained 52.2 percent (24 of 46) from the field, including 11 of 25 from 3-point range with Canaan hitting 5 of 10 from deep and Fields knocking down 4 of 9.

Tied 31-31 with 17:30 left, Murray State went on an 18-2 run fueled by six 3-pointers, including three by Fields and two by Canaan, for a 49-33 lead with 12:03 left.

Sherman Blanford and Josh Piper hit 11 points each for the Panthers (3-16, 0-6), who have lost 12 straight.

Murray State won the rebound battle 31-21, and no Panther registered more than four boards. The Racers scored 13 second-chance points to Eastern Illinois’ 4.