CARBONDALE — Another first-round playoff game for Eastern.

Another first-round playoff loss for the Panthers.

Southern Illinois quarterback Nick Hill completed 24-of-30 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns and the Salukis took advantage of two first half turnovers by Eastern during their 30-11 win at McAndrew Stadium.

It was the third straight year Eastern has made the playoffs but lost its first-round game. The play of the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Hill had much to do with it this year.

The Panthers defense stopped the Salukis offense on the first possession of the game, but Eastern gave the ball right back to Southern. Senior running back Ademola Adeniji fumbled on Eastern’s first offensive play, with safety Clayton Johnson recovering the loose ball.

Adeniji, who finished with 22 carries for 76 yards, said he was down on the play, but the officials didn’t debate the call.

Hill then connected with Alan Turner on a touchdown pass on the Salukis first play after the fumble to give Southern a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes, 19 seconds left in the quarter.

The Salukis (11-1) struck again in the first quarter, with Hill throwing an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Kernes to increase their lead to 14-0.

Eastern (8-4) had difficulty establishing any type of offensive flow throughout the game, with starting wide receivers Alicus Nozinor (right arm) and Micah Rucker (ribs and shoulders) not playing in the first half.

The two played in the second half, catching a combined six passes for only 20 yards.

The Panthers didn’t get their first first-down until 1:15 left in the first quarter and only had 78 yards of total offense at halftime, with Southern leading 20-0.

Southern, by comparison, had 272 yards of offense in the first half, with Hill completing 16-of-19 passes for 185 yards.

Junior Tyler Wilke made a 42-yard field goal with 2:35 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 20-3.

Hill answered Wilke’s field goal by scoring on a five-yard run on a quarterback draw to make it 27-3 with 14:55 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers scored their lone touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when quarterback Bodie Reeder connected with tight end Jordan Campanella on an eight-yard touchdown pass.

The two-point conversion pass to fullback Trent Steckel was successful to make it 27-11. Reeder, who endured constant pressure from the Salukis defense the entire game, finished 22-of-33 for only 113 yards and an interception.

Southern will host Massachusetts in a second-round game next week. The Minutemen beat Fordham 49-35 on Saturday.

Note: Eastern head coach Bob Spoo did not travel to Carbondale after undergoing an appendectomy earlier this week. Defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni served as Eastern’s head coach during the game.

Check out dennews.com on Sunday night for more coverage of Eastern’s 30-11 playoff loss against Southern Illinois.