Box Score

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JACKSONVILLE, Ala.  – Chris Olivier scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Panther men's basketball team to a 56-48 Ohio Valley Conference win at Jacksonville State on Saturday afternoon. EIU improves to 5-11 overall and 2-3 in conference action.
 
Leading 51-48 with 34 seconds left in regulation, the Panthers sank their final five free throw attempts – including the last four by Alex Austin – to hang on for the road win.
 
The Panthers had their largest lead, 36-18, with 16:43 on the clock in the second half before the Gamecocks (8-12, 2-3 OVC) outscored EIU, 18-4, to get within four (40-36). EIU responded by hitting their next four baskets to hold off the JSU comeback.
 
Reggie Smith scored the Panthers first six points of the game as they jumped out to an early 8-0 advantage. JSU went on a 13-3 run to take a two-point lead (13-11) at the 11:04 mark before the Panthers responded by using a 17-3 run to take a 28-16 lead with just under two minutes remaining before intermission. The Panthers posted a season-high .563 field-goal percentage in the first stanza, going 9-for-16 from the floor.
 
The Panthers connected on 50 percent of their shot attempts (18-for-36) in the contest and went 19-for-27 from the foul line. JSU went 16-for-38 from the floor and 12-for-18 from the charity stripe. Neither team shot well from behind the arc as EIU went 1-for-6 and JSU went 4-for-25.
 
Smith added nine points in the win and Luke Piotrowski chipped in eight points off the bench for the second consecutive game. Sherman Blanford had seven points and a game-high four assists.
 
EIU held a 35-25 advantage on the glass, including a 17-6 edge in the first half. Austin paced the Panthers with six rebounds while Keenen Anderson grabbed five rebounds.
 
Teraes Clemmons led the Gamecocks with 12 points – all coming in the second half – on 5-for-9 shooting. Jamal Hunter paced the team on the glass with five rebounds.
 
The Panthers return to action on Thursday, Jan. 16 against Murray State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Lantz Arena.