EIU, SIUE Drop Men's Basketball Games

MURRAY, Ky. -- Scoring droughts in both halves cost Eastern Illinois on Thursday as the Panthers fell to Murray State, 68-58, at the CFSB Center.  

MSU improved to 9-10, 3-3 in the OVC.  EIU fell to 6-13, 3-4 in the OVC.  The Panthers play at Austin Peay on Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. tip in Clarksville, Tenn.

In the first half EIU had a 0-for-15 drought from the floor after opening the game 3-for-3.  Before going cold from the field, Marshawn Blackmon had a pair of early baskets as he finished with nine points.

After cutting the Murray State lead to eight points with a 5-0 run to open the second half, the Panthers suffered another scoring drought going 1-for-12 during the middle portion of the half.

Murray State took advantage of cold shooting working the ball down low to Wayne Langston as he scored 16 first half points for the Racers as Murray State led 42-29 at the half.  MSU shot 54 percent from the field in the half with Langston going 6-of-9 from the floor.

EIU kept chipping away despite being cold from the floor.  The Panthers made 16 trips to the free throw line in the first half knocking down 11.  A.J. Riley had seven first half points going 7-of-8 from the line.

Free throws by Jeffery Moss with 2:18 left to play in the first pushed the Racers lead to 42-21 as MSU finished off an 8-1 run.
The Panthers closed the half with an 8-0 run with Cornell Johnston snapping the 0-for-15 cold streak with a 3-pointer with 1:38 to play in the half.   EIU opened the second half with a 5-0 run as Johnston hit another 3-pointer and Trae Anderson had a jumper on the wing. Johnston was one of two EIU players in double figures finishing with ten.

Bryce Jones ended EIU’s early run in the second half with a 3-pointer as the Racers were able to keep the lead at double figures most of the second half.  Murray State finished the night 6-of-15 from 3-point range.

Austin Peay 90, SIUE 86 (OT)

Burak Eslik and Jake Newton each scored 22 points Thursday, but Austin Peay outlasted SIUE 90-86 in overtime in Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball.

The Cougars dropped to 4-15 overall and 1-6 in the OVC. Austin Peay improved to 9-12 overall and 2-4 in the OVC.

The loss is the second overtime defeat for SIUE in its last three games.

The Governors outscored the Cougars 14-10 in overtime after erasing a 10-point SIUE lead over the final 4:52 in regulation time. Josh Robinson sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer for APSU with less than a second remaining in regulation. Robinson finished with a game-high 39 points.

"This was a tough game; a hard fought game," SIUE Head Coach Jon Harris said. "I feel like we gave it away down the stretch. We didn't execute. We just didn't get it done."

Newton set a new career high with the 22 points. He knocked down seven three-pointers and added a free throw.

"Jake had the hot hand tonight and guys did a good job finding him," Harris said. "I wish the result would be a little bit different."

Eslik was 5 for 11 from the field, but 11 for 12 at the free throw line. Carlos Anderson added 13 points.