Foul trouble and rebounding were problems for Eastern in their season opener against the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The Panthers lost to the Fighting Illini 112-67 Monday evening at State Farm Center.

The Panthers played without senior guard Corey Sawyer Jr. and redshirt junior forward Lazar Grbovic, two significant players from last season. Eastern also missed two new players in redshirt junior forwards Jackson Connor and Blake Goodman.

Eastern has a fairly new team as two new faces in graduate guard Artese Stapleton and junior guard Zion Fruster started the game for the Panthers along with senior guard NaKyel Shelton, graduate forward Kooper Jacobi and senior forward Rodolfo Rufino Bolis.

“I thought [Stapleton and Fruster] did good,” Eastern’s head coach Marty Simmons said. “I thought early on, we stayed with our game plan. I thought our guys did a very good job attacking and making some mid range shots, making some floaters.”

Shelton recorded the first points of the game for the Panthers with a contested jumper.

Shelton also recorded a contested three pointer to give the Panthers an early 11-10 lead over the Illini before University of Illinois’ head coach Brad Underwood called a timeout.

“I thought we had some good moments there early,” Simmons said.

Eastern was able to keep the game close for the majority of the first half, but an 11-2 run would put the Panthers behind by 14 points before the half ended.

Throughout the first half, the Panthers got in early foul trouble as Eastern recorded nine fouls with 9:12 left before halftime. Eastern ended the first half with 16 fouls.

“We put them at the line way too much with extra points,” Simmons said. UofI went 34 for 46 from the free throw line.

“As [UofI] made their run, we lost our poise,” Simmons said. “There are certain things you have to do to score against these guys, and if you get away from it, then they make you pay. They forced us into some tough shots.”

At the half, Shelton led with 12 points with Stapleton behind with eight points of his own.

The margin between the Fighting Illini and the Panthers continued to grow throughout the second half as UofI recorded a 16-3 run to kick off the second half.

Eastern had two players foul out of the game, forwards Bolis and senior Sekou Kalle.

Bolis ended the game with four points and five rebounds. Kalle ended the game with two points of his own and one rebound.

Eastern struggled with the rebounding battle between UofI as the Panthers got out rebounded by 30.

Jacobi led the Panthers in rebounding with seven.

Redshirt junior guard Obadiah Curtis got into a groove of his own throughout the second half.

“He gave us a big lift [in the second half] offensively,” Simmons said. “He’s really aggressive. He’s been doing that in the scrimmages.”

Curtis ended the game with 10 points and five rebounds.

Shelton led the Panthers in points with 16 and Stapleton followed 11. Fruster and Curtis were the other two players that recorded double-digit points for the Panthers.

“We got beat up pretty good, but we could still go back and watch the tape and we can work on things that will allow us to continue to grow and develop,” Simmons said. “I really like our team. I think we will continue to grow, and I’ll think we’ll get better.”

Eastern will be back in action against Earlham College on Wednesday for their home opener in Groniger Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.