MADISON, N.J. – Eastern University Men's Basketball scored eight of the final nine points of regulation and won, 80-76, in overtime at FDU-Florham. Darius Washington hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final three minutes of regulation and finished with a team-high 22 points to lead the Eagles (9-7, 4-1 MAC Freedom) to their first road win in the league this season.

Eastern led 36-32 at half, but the host Devils (0-16, 0-5 MAC Freedom) started the half with a 5-0 run and built their lead to 58-48 with eight and a half minutes on the clock. Austin Duncan scored on a clever bounce pass from Victor Peña, and then Austin James hit his first 3-pointer of the afternoon. James scored 13 of his 15 points in the final seven minutes of regulation and overtime.

James cut the deficit to 61-60 with seven straight points, but the Devils responded with six-consecutive points to lead 67-60 with with two and a half minutes to play.

Washington started the Eagles' decisive run with a 3-pointer. Washington, who now has 44 3-pointers on the season. hit his second in the burst after Peña finished inside and the Devils split a pair of free throws at the other end.

James wound up with the key defensive pressure to earn a stop and get the game to overtime.

The Eagles led by as many as six early in the overtime, but the Devils rallied to tie the score on a Shawn Smith jumper with just over a minute left in regulation. After the teams traded empty possessions, the Eagles had the ball with 35 seconds to play. Washington found a crease in the FDU defense and finished at the rim for a 78-76 lead with 12 seconds to play. Eastern earned the stop and Washington hit a pair of free throws for the final margin.  

Peña joined Washington and James in double figures with 14 points. The junior forward also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Eastern had a 45-34 edge on the glass in the game. Washington has scored over 20 points in each of the last three games.

"Hats off to FDU for a great effort tonight," Head Coach Eric McNelley said after the game. "They outplayed us for 38 minutes. Darius  and Austin James gave us a huge spark offensively and got us back in the game. Winning on the road is tough in this league and regardless of your opponent's record. You have to be ready to play and fortunately for us we had enough stops down the stretch to get the win."

FDU's Darren Davy finished with a game-high 26 points.

The Eagles will host Manhattanville College on Saturday at 3:00 pm.