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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. –
A.J. Riley went coast-to-coast to make a driving lay-up with 0.3 seconds left in overtime to give Eastern Illinois an 87-86 win at Austin Peay on Saturday night in the Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tenn.
Riley finished with 18 points including the final eight points for EIU in overtime as the Panthers improved to 7-13 overall, 4-4 in the OVC. APSU fell to 9-13 overall, 2-5 overall.
After holding off Austin Peay for most of the second half, EIU pushed its lead to 72-64 on a 3-pointer by
Cornell Johnston with 2:26 to play. Riley knocked home a pair of free throws that gave the Panthers a commanding 74-65 lead with 1:46 to play.
APSU closed the game with a 10-1 run to tie the game at 75-75 at the end of regulation. Josh Robinson had two baskets and three free throws to spark the run with Zach Glotta banging home a 3-pointer.
EIU led by one in the final 33 seconds of overtime and looked like they might have sealed the win when
Luke Norman pulled down a rebound on a missed Glotta 3-pointer. EIU was called for a turnover giving APSU the ball with 11 seconds left. Robinson was fouled and sank both free throws to put the Governors up by one with 5.7 seconds in the game. Robinson finished with 20 points after scoring 39 on Thursday in the APSU win over SIU Edwardsville.
After the Robinson free throws, EIU pushed the ball up the court for Riley to hit the game winner. Riley was 10-of-14 from the free throw line and added seven assists.
EIU led 37-32 at the half as both teams shot below 40 percent for the half. Both teams shot over 50 percent in the second half with EIU finishing the night at 47 percent. APSU shot 43 percent.
Trae Anderson led EIU with 20 points while Johnston added ten. The Panthers won the battle on the glass with a 47-37 margin. Anderson just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
APSU had two big offensive rebounds in the final minutes on missed free throws to keep possessions alive. Chris Horton had 15 rebounds to go with 22 points. Jared Savage added 11 points off the bench.
EIU hosts UT Martin on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena.