As the old saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.”

Unfortunately for some of EIU’s faculty, their two-year winning streak of the annual faculty vs. Black Student Union basketball game came to an end on September 13, with a loss to the BSU student body by a score of 35 -28.

The game was played in the Student Recreation Center.

As expected, the BSU celebrity basketball game was filled with surprises, which included a demoralizing block, a couple wildly missed lay-ups and one controversial technical foul, which got both teams’ benches off of their seats.

The game started at 6 p.m. and the EIU faculty wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.

After winning the tip-off the EIU faculty quickly moved the ball around the perimeter of the defense and after two quick passes No. 10 LeeAntwann McCline, of TRiO, was able to launch an uncontested three-point shot that started the scoring at 3 – 0.

The BSU quickly responded with a lay-up by No. 11 Barnell Coppage, which made the score 3 – 2. The BSU students played an aggressive strategy, which resulted in six first half rebounds.

After the EIU faculty went through a stretch of three turnovers on four offensive possessions, the BSU students were able to gain a four-point lead thanks to two consecutive lay-ups by No. 3 Andre Tyler.

Just as soon as the students had the lead, the faculty came right back with an offensive run of their own, which was fueled by the offensive rebounding of No. 18 Shawn Schultz, of Center for Academic Support Achievement.

The final few minutes of the first half were filled with back and forth scoring from both sides, but the EIU faculty were able to gain a two-point lead going into halftime because of a technical foul.

Faculty coach Shawn Peoples, the assistant director of Student Standards, said she was especially pleased with the way the offense was playing.

“I felt that we were very strong with taking it to the hoop and trying to draw the foul,” Peoples said. ” We did a good job of collecting offensive rebounds.”

BSU student coach Marcus Pailer, said he was especially pleased with the way the first half went, despite missing a few opportunities.

“I felt that we had a good rhythm for most of the game,” Pailer said.

The second half began with sloppy play from the EIU faculty, who missed their first seven shots of the half. The lapse of offensive production allowed the BSU team to go on a 7-1 run and take a commanding lead of 25-19.

From there the BSU team controlled the clock and continued to get to the foul line. The BSU team finished the second half going 3-of-8 at the foul line.

After the BSU team’s initial run at the beginning of the second half the game, they never looked back, but there were still a few surprises left.

On an uncontested breakaway faculty team member Shawn Schultz missed a lay-up that hit the backboard and went sailing back to the court with no one around him.

Also, the faculty found a bright spot in the form of a big block by No. 16 JaRod Tobler who sent an opposing lay-up into the second row of what would have been the bleachers.

The game finished with the BSU students pulling away for a final score of 35 -28. This was the first victory for the students since the game began in 2007

After the game, faculty coach Mona Davenport, director of Minority Affairs, said she was pleased with the way the team performed.

“We played really well, hopefully next year we can get a few more calls to go our way,” Davenport said.

Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7942 or at jnschneider@eiu.edu