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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Playing without their leading scorer and getting limited production from a hobbled Bobby Catchings, Eastern Illinois was no match for Ohio Valley Conference leader Austin Peay as the Governors picked up a 72-52 win.
Austin Peay improved to 16-9 overall and 12-3 in the OVC while EIU dropped to 4-19 overall, 3-12 in the conference.
Austin Peay jumped out early with a 15-2 run as Illinois native Todd Babington hit four 3-pointers in the first six minutes. Babington would finish the first half with 15 in the first half and 27 for the game. He was 7-of-11 from 3-point range.
After Wes Channels put APSU up by 16 points at the 8:32 mark of the first, Eastern Illinois put together a rally of its own as senior Jon'Tee Willhite carried the Panthers with 12 first half points. EIU closed to within one point at the half as Willhite scored three points in the last 1:07 of the first. Willhite would be shut out in the second half finishing with a team high 12.
EIU would tie the score at 31-31 with 17:52 left in the game as Bobby Cathings drained a 3-pointer. He would only play six minutes in the second half finishing with eight points.
Austin Peay would put together a 15-5 run over the next seven minutes. Babington knocked down a 3-pointer and lay-up during the run while Fernandez Lockett contributed six points in the run.
EIU closed to within six points at 7:54 on an Ousmane Cisse tip-in but the Governors answered with a 13-1 run to ice the game. Drake Reed added 10 points for APSU.
Tyler Laser was the only other Panther to reach double figures with 11 points as he hit 3-of-10 from 3-point range.
Eastern Illinois returns to action on Saturday night with a 6 p.m. game at Tennessee Martin.
