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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Austin Peay was able to drive the ball to the basket on Wednesday night shooting 23-of-30 at the foul line as the Governors snapped Eastern Illinois five-game win streak with a 79-70 win in Lantz Arena.
EIU fell to 11-14 overall, 7-5 in the OVC. The Panthers will host SIU Edwardsville on Saturday night at 7 p.m. APSU improved to 12-15 overall, 5-7 in the OVC.
EIU led 31-29 with 30-seconds remaining in the first half and seemed poised to go into the locker room with a halftime lead after
Casey Teson connected on a 3-pointer. With two seconds remaining in the half, Josh Robinson was fouled on a 3-point attempt. On the play a technical foul was called on EIU's bench that sent Robinson to the line for five free throws. He connected on all five to give APSU a 34-31 lead. Robinson would finish the game with 21 points, one of four Governors in double figures. A total of four technical fouls were issued in the first half.
The Panthers did not appear to let the end of the first half set the tone as
Trae Anderson scored back-to-back baskets to open the second half. Anderson picked up two early fouls in the first half and played only five first half minutes. A lay-up by
Luke Piotrowski gave the Panthers a 6-0 run to open the second half.
EIU would push the lead to six points twice in the second half, the final time on a jumper by Piotrowski with 13:48 to play giving EIU a 49-43 lead. Piotrowski finished with eight points and five blocked shots.
After free throws by Khalil Davis with 7:40 to play put APSU up by one, EIU went on a 7-2 run to lead by five points with just over five and half minutes to play.
Cornell Johnston had the big 3-pointer in the run as he led EIU with 16 points going 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Johnston's 3-pointer with 6:29 to play was also the final field goal for the Panthers until the final 30 seconds when
A.J. Riley and Anderson both scored late field goals. APSU would limit EIU to only three free throws as they went on a 13-3 run to knock off EIU in Lantz Arena for the second straight year.
Robinson had a 3-pointer and Tre' Ivory scored four points for Austin Peay to close out the win.
Chris Horton and Kenny Jones both finished with double-doubles for APSU as they dominated play on the glass by a 42-27 margin. Horton had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Jones had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Davis added ten points.
Anderson and Riley both joined Johnston in double figures for EIU. Anderson had 11 points. Riley had a double-double with ten points, ten rebounds.