GREENVILLE, Ill. - The men's basketball team competed well against a Eureka team that was chosen as the preseason favorite in the SLIAC men's basketball coaches poll, but the Panthers fell just short, taking a 124-119 loss on Tuesday night.

GU trailed 66-60 at halftime but received 20 of Kenneth Cooley's team-high 29 points in the opening period.

In the second half, GU outscored the Red Devils 59-58 but dug a hole when EC scored 10 of the first 13 points of the second half forcing head coach George Barber to use a timeout with the score at 76-63.

Eventually, Eureka built up an 18 point cushion with 9:28 remaining in the game.

Over the next four and a half minutes, Greenville fought back, whittling down the deficit to three points with 4:54 to go in the game, but Eureka managed regain control and the win.

In addition to Cooley's 29 points, Travis Dickey ended with 18 points, and Romello Ball contributed 16 points.

Jarred Johnson added 15 points, and Kaidyn Johnson and Julius Erby posted 13 points.

Kaidyn Johnson led the Panthers with four offensive rebounds, and Ball collected a combined seven offensive and defensive rebounds.

Ball and Everett Campbell had a team-high five assists. Jarred Johnson and Kaidyn Johnson each tallied three steals, and Erby blocked four shots.

The Panthers (1-17, 0-7 SLIAC) travel to Principia on Saturday afternoon for a game at 3 p.m.