LOGAN, Utah ?  Austin Peay State University rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit only to come up short Tuesday night as it fell to Utah State, 71-68, in South Padre Invitational action, played at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Derek Wright saw his 23-foot jump shot hit the front iron with four seconds left and, as a result, the Governors dropped their second road contest in the South Padre event. The Govs previously lost their opening-round tourney game, Nov. 10, 81-67, at Vanderbilt.

APSU now heads to South Padre Island to play Florida Gulf Coast, 1 p.m. Friday at the South Padre Island Convention Center. The Govs final tourney game will be played Saturday afternoon.

The Governors will have to get off to a better start in those games, especially defensively, than they did Tuesday night. After Utah State missed its first shot, the Aggies proceeded to make its next 10, including six layups to quickly go up 21-11. The Govs' deficit reached 14 before they clawed back within seven. However, Utah State, hitting 66.7 percent from the floor, was able to take a 36-22 lead into halftime.

APSU, led by Fernandez Lockett and Wes Channels, were able to cut the deficit back to nine, 51-42, before Kyle Duncan nailed a three pointer and Drake Reed a jump shot with 9:24 left. The Govs had the momentum before four straight fouls were called on them in one Aggies possession, the fourth being charged to Todd Babington. It not only led to a three-point play but it was also Babington's fourth.

That removed the Govs perimeter threat from the ball game and helped re-energize Utah State, which quickly built a 13-point lead with 6:12 left.

But the Govs came back one more time. When Channels hit a three-pointer with 1:23 left, the Govs were down by three, 67-64. It was a three-point game again after Reed hit another two free throws with 58 seconds but two more Utah State free throws made it a five-point game with 54 seconds left.

But Derek Wright drove to the basket to again make it a three-point game with 48 seconds. The Govs decided against fouling, instead relying on a potential defensive stop to get the ball back. It is exactly what happened as Babington came away with a steal with 15 seconds left.

But Wright's three came up short, allowing the Aggies, now 3-3, to escape.

All-America guard Jaycee Carroll led Utah State, with 20 points and eight assists. Forward Gary Wilkinson added 19 on eight-of-eight shooting. In fact, a trio of frontcourt players, Wilkinson, Stephen DuCharme and Tai Wesley went a combined 16 of 18 from the floor as Utah State shot an impressive 65 percent from the floor.

Lockett led the Govs with 17 points while Channels added 16 before fouling out. Reed added 14 and Babington 11 as the Governors, who shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half after hitting only 33.3 percent in the first.

-AP-