CHARLESTON, Ill. – A late Eastern Illinois comeback lifted the Panthers to a 59-50 overtime win over the Jacksonville State men's basketball team on Saturday in Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
The Gamecocks (7-9, 0-2 OVC) clamped down defensively on the homestanding Panthers (8-6, 2-0 OVC) but couldn't get the shots to fall late in regulation nor in overtime in dropping the final game of a five-game road trip.
 
Senior D.J. Felder notched his second double-double in the last three games with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while fellow senior Avery Moore scored 14 on a night that saw him go 4-for-10 from behind the arc.
 
The Gamecocks controlled the game's tempo early, slowing the game and using a stingy defense to limit EIU to just 7-for-24 shooting in the first 20 minutes. JSU grabbed the lead early and pushed to 23-17 at the intermission.
 
The second half started with more of the same, with EIU failing to find looks on the offensive end while the Gamecocks stretched their lead to as many as 12 at 40-28 with just under eight minutes left in the game.
 
The shots wouldn't fall from there and the Gamecocks went the final 7:52 scoring from just the free throw line, while an energized Panther team nipped away until it tied the game at 46-46 on a Josh Piper layup with 21 seconds left.
 
JSU freshman Malcolm Drumwright, who scored nine points in his first career start, seemed to set up the game winner as time expired. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native's crossover got him into the lane but an off-balanced attempt hit the glass and rolled off the front of the rim to send the game into overtime.
 
In the extra period, the Panthers continued their momentum by scoring the first three points. Chris Olivier made a free throw and then a dunk to give the Panthers a 49-46 lead 63 seconds into the extra period.
 
Olivier was the lone Panther in double figures with 20 points and also had a double-double with 10 boards in the win for EIU.
 
JSU couldn't get one to fall after that and the Panthers were able to put the game away and win their fifth in a row and improve to 5-1 at home this season.
 
Junior Jeremy Watson grabbed eight rebounds, while Moore pulled down a career-best seven to help JSU to a 44-39 advantage on the glass. Junior JaQuail Townser had eight points and six assists for the Gamecocks.
 
The Gamecocks return home for three games, starting with a Thursday game against Austin Peay. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT at Pete Mathews Coliseum. JSU will then host Murray State Sunday, Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. in a game nationally televised on CBS Sports. Admission is free for all JSU students and fans ages 18 and under to all JSU home basketball games.