Box Score (PDF)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team sank seven consecutive free throws in the final 33 seconds to seal a 79-70 win over host Austin Peay in its OVC opener at the Winfield Dunn Center on Saturday night.
 
EKU (10-6, 1-0 OVC) led by 13, 67-54, following a pair of free throws by sophomore Paul Jackson with 5:15 to play in the game; however, APSU (7-9, 0-1 OVC) rallied in the waning minutes and pulled to within four, 73-69, on a layup by Josh Robinson with 27 seconds on the clock.
 
Senior Ja'Mill Powell and Jarelle Reischel combined to sink seven free throws down the stretch, though, as the Colonels held on for the key conference road win. EKU had missed its previous five free throws before Powell and Reischel sealed it.
 
Despite playing with foul trouble, Reischel (17 points) and junior JaVontae Hawkins (18 points) led EKU in scoring on the night.
 
Jackson finished with 12 points and a game-high six assists, while Powell came off the bench to contribute 13 points and four rebounds. Freshman Nick Mayo (12 points) rounded out five Colonels in double figures.
 
The Colonels shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field, improving to 7-2 in games in which they shoot 50 percent or better.
 
EKU stifled Austin Peay to 30 percent (6-of-20) shooting from deep. The Govs also shot 56 percent (18-of-32) from the free throw line.
 
The Colonels' defense held the Governors without a field goal for 6:39 in the first half, as Eastern Kentucky opened a 24-18 lead following a jumper by Jackson with just under eight minutes on the clock.
 
A layup by Hawkins with just over a minute on the clock helped the Colonels take a 10-point lead, 40-30, into the locker room at halftime.
 
EKU took its largest lead of the game, 50-36, when Jackson came up with a steal and found Powell for a fastbreak dunk at the 16:22 mark of the second half.
 
However, the Colonels went scoreless for over five minutes midway through the second half to allow APSU to slowly claw back into the game.
  
With the win, EKU has now won four straight against Austin Peay. The Colonels have won their last five OVC openers.
 
Eastern Kentucky returns to McBrayer Arena on Thursday. The Colonels host UT Martin in another OVC contest. Thursday's tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.