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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois won its sixth straight game of the season matching the longest win streak in the NCAA Division I history of the program as the Panthers moved into a tie for fourth place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 83-73 win over Austin Peay on Thursday night. The win improved EIU's record to 17-11 overall and 10-7 in the OVC. APSU fell to 16-14 overall, 10-7 in the OVC.
Austin Peay held a slim 36-35 lead at the half as Wes Channels scored 14 first half points for the Governors. APSU led by as many as seven points in the first half before Tyler Laser was able to trim the lead to one point converting a three point play as time expired. Laser finished with 21 points hitting 5-of-10 from 3-point range.
The Panthers opened the second half with a 7-0 run as #T.J. Marion# scored five points converting a three point drive to the basket and a jumper in the land to quickly give EIU a 42-36 lead. EIU would never trail following the quick run as they extended the lead to 11 points with 10:34 left on a 3-pointer by Laser.
Anthony Campbell's three point play with 4:43 remaining and Tyrone Caldwell's 3-pointer with 3:26 left cut the Panthers lead down to five on two occasions late in the game but EIU had an answer each time. Laser responded to Campbell's three point play with a 3-pointer of his own while Shaun Pratl had a lay-up to answer Caldwell's bucket.
Austin Peay would resort to fouling to get back in the game in the final two minutes and Jeremy Granger responded hitting seven of eight free throws as he finished with 21 points. Pratl added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench while James Hollowell also had 12.
Campbell had 13 for APSU and Caldwell ten.
EIU will host Tennessee State on Saturday at 6 p.m. as the Panthers finish off their year long 100 years of intercollegiate basketball celebration. Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay are now one game behind Eastern Kentucky in the OVC standings. A win by EIU on Saturday coupled with a loss by either EKU or APSU would land the Panthers a top four seed in the OVC playoffs and a first round home playoff game.
