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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – With a winter storm warning in effect in Central Illinois, Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois warmed up the scoreboard Saturday morning during a nationally televised game on American Sports Network. In the end Austin Peay picked up a 92-84 road win at EIU in Lantz Arena.
APSU improved to 6-13 overall, 2-3 in the OVC. EIU dropped to 9-9 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.
Demetrius McReynolds and Josh Robinson squared off in a scoring duel of their own with McReynolds scoring 19 of his career high 32 points for EIU in the first half. McReynolds added 12 rebounds for his fourth career double-double. Robinson warmed up for the Governors in the second half scoring 21 of his game high 36 points as APSU built on a 44-43 halftime lead.
EIU jumped out quick and held a three point lead with 10:17 to play on a pair of free throws by
Muusa Dama. APSU responded with a 13-2 run building an eight point lead on a 3-pointer by Jared Savage that put the Governors up 31-23 with 6:56 to play in the first half. Austin Peay was 8-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half and 12-of-20 from beyond the arc for the game.
EIU closed the Austin Peay lead to one point at the half finishing with a 9-2 run. McReynolds had four points in the run and
Montell Goodwin sank a 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining in the half.
Dama gave EIU the lead with a lay-up to open the half as he joined McReynolds with a double-double for EIU with 16 points and ten rebounds. Robinson gave APSU the lead on the next possession and the Governors held the lead until EIU was able to tie the game at 70-70 on free throws by
Ray Crossland with 7:36 left in the game.
Kenny Jones scored four straight points followed by five points by Robinson as APSU added a 9-0 run after Crossland's free throws. Jones had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Governors. Austin Peay would increase the lead to ten points on Robinson free throws with 1:21 to play.
EIU was able to trim the lead to six points with 14 seconds remaining but could get no closer after the 9-0 APSU run. Goodwin finished with 14 points and
Casey Teson added ten off the bench.
Terrell Lewis tied the EIU career record for assists at 415 as he finished the game with four.
John Murry and Savage rounded out the APSU double figure scorers. Murry had 18 points and Savage 11. APSU shot 54 percent from the field in the game.