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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois once again rallied to pick up a win as the Panthers trailed by 12 points with 7:52 to play on Saturday afternoon.  EIU would tie the game in regulation and then out score Jacksonville State 13-4 in the overtime period as the Panthers won 59-50.
 
EIU won its fifth straight game improving to 8-6 overall, 2-0 in the OVC.  EIU will play at Tennessee State on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.   JSU lost its fifth straight game falling to 7-9 overall, 0-2 in the OVC.
 
Avery Moore hit a 3-pointer for JSU with 7:52 to play which gave the Gamecocks a 40-28 lead with 7:52 to play.  It would be the final field goal of the second half for JSU as the Panthers would slowly whittle away at the lead starting with a Reggie Smith steal and dunk.  LeTrell Viser followed with a jumper with 6:18 to play as EIU began a 12-0 run.
 
Viser sank a 3-pointer with 5:40 to go and Chris Olivier scored five straight points to tie game at 40-40 with 3:29 to play.  Oliver finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds as he posted his third career double-double.
 
Jeremy Watson ended the Panthers 12-0 run with a pair of free throws with 2:58 to play.  The Gamecocks would score their final six points of regulation from the free throw line. 
 
D.J. Felder put JSU up two with a pair of free throws with 41 seconds remaining.  Oliver then fed Josh Piper for a lay-up with 21 seconds to play which tied the game at 46-46 and forced overtime.  Piper had eight points and seven rebounds.
 
In the extra session EIU jumped out to a 52-48 lead on a three points by Olivier and a 3-pointer by Viser with 3:13 to play.  Viser finished with nine points.
 
After JSU closed the lead to two points on free throws by Felder, the Panthers scored the final seven points of the game.  Oliver had a bucket and Cornell Johnston sank four free throws.
 
EIU's defense held JSU to just 27 percent shooting for the game including 1-of-8 in the overtime period.  Moore led JSU with 15 points.  Felder had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
 
JSU led 23-17 at the half holding EIU to 29 percent shooting in the first half.  EIU finished the game shooting 38 percent including 3-of-5 from the field in overtime.