CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Eastern Illinois used a dominant first half and a game-high 25 points from guard Zion Fruster to fend off a second-half surge from Nicholls State and secure a 65-57 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Lantz Arena.

The Panthers improved their season record to 1-1, while the Colonels fell to 0-2.

Eastern Illinois seized control early, building a 25-16 lead by halftime. The Panthers’ defense stifled Nicholls State, which managed to connect on only four of 26 attempts from three-point range for the game and shot just 29.5 percent from the floor overall.

Despite the offensive struggles, Nicholls State mounted a significant challenge after the break, outscoring Eastern Illinois 41-40 in the second half. The Colonels were led by Jaylen Searles, who scored 20 points, and Trae English, who added 17. Their efforts, however, were not enough to overcome the first-half deficit.

Fruster, a 6-foot-2 guard from Douglasville, Georgia, was the catalyst for the Panthers. In 35 minutes of action, his scoring provided a consistent offensive threat that kept Nicholls State at bay. He was supported by Kooper Jacobi of Sellersburg, Indiana, who contributed nine points and five assists in a team-high 38 minutes.

The game was ultimately decided at the free-throw line and in the efficiency of each team’s possessions. Eastern Illinois capitalized on its opportunities, making 22 of 29 free throws and posting an offensive rating of 93.2 by scoring 65 points on 70 possessions. Nicholls State, by contrast, shot 17 of 27 from the line and had a lower offensive rating of 76.2, scoring 57 points from 75 possessions.

Defensively, Nicholls State showed tenacity, generating 22 points off 14 Eastern Illinois turnovers and outscoring the Panthers 14-1 in fastbreak points. The Colonels also recorded eight steals and five blocks. Eastern Illinois countered by winning the battle on the glass, particularly on the offensive end where they secured key second-chance opportunities.

The announced attendance was 1,024.

Nicholls State will look for its first win of the season when it travels to face Valparaiso on Nov. 12. Eastern Illinois continues its challenging early schedule with a road game at Notre Dame on Nov. 11.