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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Austin Peay made 21-of-29 free throws as the Governors beat Eastern Illinois 76-64 on Saturday night in Lantz Arena behind a strong effort from the line.  EIU was only 8-of-12 from the stripe as they fell to 9-9 overall, 2-4 in the OVC.  Austin Peay improved to 8-13, 5-3 in the OVC.

The teams traded the early lead in the first four minutes with EIU holding its last lead, 7-4, following a Josh Piper 3-pointer with 17:11 to play in the first half.  Melvin Baker answered with a dunk and Jerome Clynburn hit back-to-back jumpers to put APSU up 10-7.  Piper hit a pair of free throws to close the gap to one as the freshman finished with nine points.

TyShwan Edmondson hit four 3-pointers over the next six minutes of action as Austin Peay built a 10 point lead at the 7:10 mark, 29-19.  Edmondson had a game high 24 points as the Governors led by as many as 11 points in the first half.  EIU shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening half to trail 36-32 at the break.

Baker hit a jumper and a pair of free throws to open the second half as APSU quickly pushed the lead back to double figures.  Banker had ten points.  Austin Peay was able to keep the margin around double digits for the remainder of the game as four players finished in double figures.  Clyburn had 18 with 12 of those points coming at the free throw line. 

Alfonzo McKinnie picked up his second career double-double for EIU with 15 points and 14 rebounds.  Nine of McKinnie's 14 rebounds were on the offensive glass as EIU had a 40-30 rebound margin.  The closest EIU got in the second half was five when L.C. Doss sank a 3-pointer at the 17:19 mark to make it 44-39.

Jeremy Granger added 14 points while Doss chipped in with 11.  The Panthers finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field.

EIU returns to action on Thursday night with a 7 p.m. game at Jacksonville State.