Eastern Kentucky staves off Austin Peay 79-70

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) JaVontae Hawkins scored 18 points and Jarelle Reischel added 17 points and eight rebounds as Eastern Kentucky beat Austin Peay 79-70 in Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.

Though it led most of the game, Eastern Kentucky (10-6) needed clutch free-throw shooting from Ja'Mill Powell and Reischel, as the two combined to make seven throws in the last 33 seconds.

Powell hit the Colonels' last field goal of the game for a 72-62 lead, but a Jared Savage jumper, Kenny Jones' dunk and a Khalil Davis free throw in less than a minute cut the deficit in half with 37 seconds left.

In the first half, Savage made two free throws to put Austin Peay (7-9) on top 18-17. Powell responded with a 3 and the Colonels led from then on.

Davis led the Governors with 16 points and Chris Horton had 15.