After losing 73-51 last month, Eastern head coach Mike Miller knew he had to change his team’s strategy in order to overcome rival Morehead State.

The Panthers opened Thursday’s contest with aggressive lateral passing that upped the game’s tempo.

“We didn’t think we attacked well at Morehead a couple weeks ago, and we wanted to be energized and attack and finish early,” Miller said. “We put balls in the basket early. With a team like Morehead that is constantly on the attack, you have to keep up with them.”

Eagle junior forward Kenneth Faried, an NBA prospect, hurt the Panthers for 22 points and 15 rebounds in the last game.

Faried had 19 points and seven rebounds, but was effective in holding the star to scoreless stretches.

Junior guard Tyler Laser described how to slow down Faried.

“He’s an energy guy,” Laser said. “If you match his energy, he is going to have a harder time. Our bigs really took it upon themselves to check him and box him out and not give him any offensive rebounds, which is most of their offense.”

Laser said Faried was getting into foul trouble with trying to get offensive rebounds and that slowed him down.

Red-shirt freshman James Hollowell said Miller had the team concentrate on post play in preparation for Faried.

“The whole week before the game, we had an emphasis on boxing out Faried and boxing out everyone,” Hollowell said. “Faried is the main focus to keep off the boards, so I think that helped us a lot.”

Hollowell sizzling

The last two games have seen Hollowell tear apart the competition.

The Indianapolis, Ind., native clipped the Eagles for a career-high 23 points and four rebounds.

“I didn’t know I had 23, but it feels great, especially with the win,” Hollowell said of his accomplishment.

There was no difference Saturday as No. 15 poured in 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed nine boards.

Playing consistently has been one area Hollowell has impressed this season.

“Since the beginning of the season, Coach (Miller) has been talking to me about where my energy level needs to be and I need to play on the court with a lot of energy,” Hollowell said. “The last couple of weeks, I got it in my head that I need to come out hard and play energetic the whole time.”

The biggest thing he learned this year about playing with energy from Miller, Hollowell said.

Miller said Hollowell will be a starter for the upcoming games.

“He has played his way into it, and when you produce like (Saturday), that’s pretty productive,” Miller said. “He’s earned that. We need him to continue to play with that energy.”

Scouting Faried

The name of Faried and his accomplishments are garnering some serious consideration from NBA scouts.

Adam Simon, director of college/international scouting for the Miami Heat, was there to watch Faried play, but could not comment on the player.

However, he discussed what to look for in a mid-major prospect.

“It’s a body of work from a player,” Simon said. “You scout them as freshmen and you follow their careers.

Simon said whether the player is from a small school, mid-major or a big program, he needs to look at his position and skills.

“For guards, you look for speed, quickness, shooting and passing,” Simon said. “For big men, you look for footwork, hands, coordination and always looking for athleticism.”

For player evaluation, Simon said players should continue improving weaknesses.

The Atlanta Hawks also had a scouting representative, but he declined comment because he was on a gag order for recently discussing players.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or rtbajek@eiu.edu.

Sophomore guard Jeremy Granger watches his pass to red-shirt freshman James Hollowell against Morehead State Thursday in Lantz Arena.(Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

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