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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. –  Austin Peay used a big second half run as the Governors overcame a 19-point first half deficit to beat Eastern Illinois, 85-80, Thursday night in Clarksville, Tenn.
APSU improved to 9-18 overall, 5-8 in the OVC. EIU fell to 13-14 overall, 5-9 in the OVC.
Josh Robinson came alive for the Governors in the second half as he scored 22 of his 25 points in the second half. He scored seven straight points for APSU as they cut a ten point EIU halftime lead down to three points with 12:59 to play at 48-45.
Terrell Lewis answered with a 3-pointer that pushed the Panthers lead back to six points. EIU made nine 3-pointers in the first half and added eight in the second half as they tied the school record for 3-pointers with 17. EIU previously made 17 3-pointers Dec. 23, 1999 at Arkansas State.
Jared Savage had back-to-back baskets that tied the game at 51-51 and gave the Governors their first lead of the game with 10:04 to play.
???????APSU would cap a 24-6 run with a six points by John Murry as the Governors led by as many as ten points in the second half. Lewis and
Casey Teson would hit back-to-back 3-pointers that cut the APSU lead to 72-70 with just over two minutes left to play.
Robinson would hit free throws to make it a two possession game as APSU went to the free throw line 32 times compared to just one by trip by EIU. That free throw was by
Patrick Muldoon as he completed a three point play in the final minute. Muldoon finished with a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Eastern Illinois opened with an offensive flurry with
Terrell Lewis and
Ray Crossland combining for the Panthers first 15 points as they raced out to a 15-5 lead with 14:37 to play.Â
Following the first media timeout out, EIU extended the lead to 21-9 as Teson connected for back-to-back 3-pointers. Teson would lead EIU with 14 first half points as he scored 20 for the game.
EIU would push the lead to 19 points at the 8:47 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer by Lewis that made it 33-14. EIU would make 9-of-16 from 3-point range in the first half.
Austin Peay chipped away at the big EIU lead going on a 15-3 run over a four minute span late in the first half. Consecutive lay-ups by Murry cut the EIU lead to 38-33 with 2:32 to play in the first. Murry had 18 first half points and 32 for the game.
EIU closed the half with a 3-pointer by Teson and jumper by Muldoon as EIU led 43-33 at the break.
Savage and Kenny Jones both had 12 points. Jones added 11 rebounds for a double-double for APSU.
Lewis had 16 points and seven assists while
Montell Goodwin added 14 points.Â