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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois pushed defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Austin Peay to the edge but Drake Reed's 37-point night helped carry the Governors (5-2, 2-0 OVC) to an 81-73 over the Panthers (2-5, 1-1 OVC) at Lantz Arena on Saturday night.

After trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, #T.J. Marion and Dewayne Wright Jr.# sparked the Panthers to a late second half surge as they climbed back into the game. Wright knocked down a jumper with 2:13 left to close the APSU lead to 74-72. Reed then responded with a bucket to push the Governors lead back to two possessions.

Wright drove deep towards the basket on the next EIU possession and was fouled. He hit one of two to make it a three point game with 1:26 remaining. APSU then went to Reed who looked to have a clear lay-up before Billy Parrish blocked his shot from behind leaving five seconds on the shot clock and 31 seconds on the game clock.

Following an Austin Peay timeout, Caleb Brown made his only bucket of the night draining a 3-pointer from the left baseline. Reed would add two insurance free throws with 12 seconds left as EIU missed two late shots.

Reed scored 15 in the first half as Austin Peay built a 44-32 lead shooting 57 percent. The Governors finished the game shooting 48 percent from the field.

The Panthers shot 52 percent from the field and 58 percent from 3-point range. Marion led the Panthers with 20 points scoring 14 of them in the second half including ten over a six minute period that trimmed Austin Peay's lead from 13 points to five points with 5:47 left.

Wright scored 11 off the bench for EIU and Romain Martin had 18 with 15 coming in the first half. The Panthers return to action on Wednesday evening at Evansville. EIU's next Ohio Valley Conference action will be on Jan. 3 at Jacksonville State – a game to be televised by ESPNU.

Anthony Campbell scored 12 and Wes Channels 11 to round out the Governors top scorers.