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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Every Austin Peay player that saw action connected on a field goal, as the Governors kept Eastern Illinois men's basketball winless at the Dunn Center since 1998 with a 73-60 victory Saturday evening.
Every Panther that saw action scored but Tyler Laser (14 points) was the only EIU player to finish in double figures. Curry McKinney was the next highest scorer with seven points off the bench.
Wes Channels led three APSU players in double figures with 20 points. He connected on three of his team's six 3-pointers. The Govs (5-4, 2-0 OVC) were 5-of-6 from 3-point land in the first half, building a 10-point halftime lead.
The Panthers (4-3, 1-1 OVC) had three additional offensive rebounds (12-9) but APSU enjoyed a 17-9 edge in second-chance points. Channels connected on two of his 3-pointers after O-boards.
Eastern cut a 16-point deficit to six with six minutes and 15 seconds remaining but would get no closer. The Panthers used a 14-4 run to get back in the game. Four EIU players scored during the surge, with the final eight points coming from Laser.
But APSU responded with six unanswered points, ending a field goal drought at five and half minutes when Channels scored on a layup.
The Govs opened up their 16-point lead with a 10-2 run early in the second half. Eastern did not score from the field for more than four minutes while APSU was extending its lead.
The Panthers led for the first three and half minutes of the contest but connected on only one field goal during a subsequent stretch of nearly 10 minutes. Austin Peay outscored EIU 13-4 during that span.
Eastern made it a six-point game with two and a half minutes remaining in the first half. But the Govs connected on a 3-pointer on their next possession, igniting a 9-2 spurt.
Laser connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 10 heading to the locker room.
The Panthers return to action Wednesday when they host Western Michigan at 7:30 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference play resumes Jan. 2.
