CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) Morris Woods scored 13 points, Sherman Blanford chipped in with 10 and Eastern Illinois secured a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament with a 61-46 victory over SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday.

Eastern Illinois (11-20, 6-10 Ohio Valley) jumped out to a 13-2 lead to begin the game capped off by a Woods lay-up and the Panthers never looked back. Eastern Illinois led by as many as 27 points and took a 40-16 lead at halftime.

Blanford grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists to go along with his point total. Austin Akers had eight points, eight assists and four rebounds for the Panthers.