Benedictine (5-2) won three games - all away from home - last week, and with its contest at Eastern Illinois, was ending a season-opening seven-game road trip. The Eagles came out hot, taking a 5-0 lead in the opening minutes on a jumper from Jackson and a 3-pointer from Zach Ramey. However, Eastern Illinois came back quickly to take a brief lead before Ramey hit a jumper to tie the game at 9-9.
Andy Gobczynski gave the host Panthers the lead for good with 14 minutes left in the first half, but the visitors stayed close, getting as close as three points with under eight minutes remaining and trailing by just a 36-30 count at the break. Benedictine scored nine points off of Eastern turnovers in the first stanza.
Eastern quickly built a 12-point lead early in the second half, but a Jackson dunk got the Eagles to within eight points (44-36). Emanuel Dildy jumpstarted a 15-4 run with a 3-pointer on the Panthers' next possession, and they held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Jackson had a terrific game in defeat, adding three assists and a career-best five steals to his game-high 26 points. Ramey was the only other Eagle to score in double figures, as he finished with a season-best 19 points.
Eastern Illinois (3-2), which shot 58% (37-64) for the game, was led by Aaron Patterson's 18-point, 11-rebound effort. Bobby Catchings added 18 points of his own for the Panthers, who placed four players in double figures in scoring.
The Eagles finally will play at the Rice Center on Saturday, December 11, when they host St. Mary's (Minn.) in their home opener.