Austin Peay Beats EIU, Murray State Downs SIUE

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Published on February 17 2017 7:58 am
Last Updated on February 17 2017 7:58 am

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.

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.


Murray State 84, SIUE 73

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State used a hot-shooting second half to defeat SIUE 84-73 Thursday in Ohio Valley Conference basketball at the CFSB Center.

The Cougars dropped to 0-14 in OVC play and 5-23 overall. Murray State improved to 14-13 overall and 8-5 in OVC play.

The Cougars finished the first half by outscoring the Racers 14-6 over the final 5:06 of the period and trailed 38-35 at the break.

"It was just that, it was energy," SIUE Head Coach Jon Harris said of the Cougars' surge. "It wasn't anything special, the guys played hard. We made some plays, dove on the floor a couple different times. We grabbed some key rebounds. We played with a little more effort to close the half."

Jonathan Stark opened the second half with a jumper to extend the Racers' lead to five before Josh White answered for SIUE with a three-pointer 20 seconds later to allow SIUE to close within two at 40-38 when Murray State went on a 12-0 run to lead 52-38 with 15:40 to play in the game.

"We lost them a couple of times and gave up some baskets in transition," Harris said. "They got some key 50-50 balls. When you're struggling like we are, those are the plays that you have to make. We have to find a way to get some of those balls to go our way and I think the score may tip in our favor."

The Racers never looked back, building their lead to as many as 20 points. Murray State connected on 57.1 percent (16-28) of its shots in the second half, including knocking down 5 of 8 three-point attempts.

Stark, the OVC scoring leader, led the Racers with a game-high 27 points. He was 9-16 from the field and 6-7 from three-point range. Terrell Miller added a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds. Damarcus Croaker scored 16 points.

Devin Thornton and Burak Eslik each scored 19 points to lead four Cougars in double figures. Thornton's 19 points nearly doubled his previous career high. He was 7-10 from the field and tied a career high with three three-pointers.

"I'm really happy for Devin," Harris said. "Devin has earned that. Going back to last year he is one guy that brings it every day. He has a positive attitude every day. He makes the hustle plays every day. For him to get an opportunity to go out there and do what he did tonight is pretty special."

Eslik was 4-14 from the field and 9-10 from the free throw line. He has now hit 134 free throws for the season, breaking his own school record of 131 set last season.

Josh White and Brandon Jackson each scored 10 points. Christian Ellis added eight points and six assists. He is averaging six assists a game over his last three games.

The Cougars complete their final road trip of the year with a 6:30 p.m. Saturday game at Austin Peay.