CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Drake Reed scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Austin Peay State University went on a late 10-1 run as the Governors defeated Belmont, 71-56, Saturday in APSU's home-opening basketball game in Dave Aaron Arena.

The victory evened APSU's record at 1-1 while Belmont slips to 3-2.

The Governors, who led the entire first half and owned a 38-28 halftime lead, saw the visiting Bruins outscore the Govs 17-5 in the first 7:15 of the second half to take a 45-43 lead. The Govs battled back to retake the lead before
Belmont led for one final time, 47-46, with 10:07 until Austin Peay regained the momentum.

Fernandez Lockett, who struggled through a scoreless first half, hit four consecutive free throws and then took an alley-oop pass from Wes Channels and rammed throw a crowd-raising dunk. Belmont would get no closer than two points the game's remainder.

After watching the Bruins cut it to 52-50, the Govs then clamped down defensively, holding Belmont to just one point from the 6:37 mark until 1:17 was left as the Govs built a 62-51 lead. Lockett then made five more free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

Reed collected his career's fifth double-double while Wes Channels, who scored 15 in the first half, finished with 19 points off the bench along with four assists. Meanwhile, Lockett scored 17 second-half points, including nine-for-nine at the free-throw line, to go with a career-high seven steals.

Justin Hare led Belmont with 13 points while Matthew Dotson and Shane Dansby each added 10.

The Governors shot 43.1 percent (22 of 51) from the floor compared to 42.6 percent (20 of 47) by Belmont. The Bruins outrebounded the Governors 34-28 but the Governors defensively forced 24 Belmont turnovers, including 16 steals by the Govs.

- AP -