CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Fernandez Lockett scored the go-ahead bucket off a rebound with 17 seconds left while Drake Reed and Wes Channels each knocked down a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to lead Austin Peay State University to a 67-63 Ohio Valley Conference victory, Thursday night, in Dave Aaron Arena.
The victory improves the Governors to 4-4 on the season, 2-0 in the OVC, while Morehead State falls to 2-5 overall, 0-1 in the OVC.
With the score tied 61-61, Reed missed a three pointer with 22 seconds left. Lockett grabbed the rebound and worked through traffic to score the go-ahead basket and was fouled. However, he missed the free throw. But again it was the Govs grabbing the offensive rebound?this time by Reed, who was fouled.
Reed made both free throws to give APSU a four-point, 65-61with 16 seconds remaining. Morehead State cut it down to two with 10 seconds left before Wes Channels was fouled on an inbounds play with six seconds left. Channels knocked down both of his free throws to clinch the contest.
Reed led four Govs in double figures with 16 points while Todd Babington added 11 and Fernandez Lockett and Kyle Duncan 10 apiece.
Jamyron Steward led Morehead State with 16 points while Leon Buchanan added 13 and Maze Stallworth 11. Nikola Stojakovic contributed nine assists.
Morehead State jumped out to a 10-2 lead to open the game and the Governors had to claw their way back, finally taking the lead 23-22, with 6:58 left in the opening half on a three-point play by Reed. APSU expanded the lead to as much as seven points before settling for a 34-30 halftime advantage.
With Derek Wight and Babington scoring the first two baskets of the second half, APSU led by as much as eight points, 38-30, less than two minutes into the half. In fact, the Eagles scored the next eight points to tie the game and it remained tight the game's remainder. In fact, Morehead State led 51-47 with 7:49 left after a Maze Stallworth three-point shot.
However, the Governors scored the next six points to regain the lead, 53-51, only to watch Stallworth hit another three pointer to put Morehead State back on top. The game then was tied at 57, 59 and 61 before Lockett's key offensive rebound and follow basket.
Both teams were exactly 24 of 48 from the floor, good enough for 50 percent shooting. The Govs, meanwhile, were 14 of 18 (77.8 percent) from the line.
- AP -
Head Coach Dave Loos comments
On Tonight's game
“You got to tip your hat to Morehead State. I'm really am impressed how they got after it tonight and I think they are going about it the right way. They have a good coach and play hard every time they take the floor.
They've had some good recruits the last couple of years and are very athletic and that's something that worried me coming into this game.
Morehead (State) did a good job keeping the game close down the stretch and I was pleased on how we grinded it out the last minute. Dez (Fernandez Lockett) and (Drake) Reed got some big rebounds when we need it and that's what I expect from two of our veteran players.”
On the play of freshman backup point guard Caleb Brown
“He made two big shots early in the game. I was happy that he is starting to look for his shot. We decided to play Wes (Channels) more in the second half and I really should have played Caleb instead. He's a guy that has a bright future and I think he is becoming more comfortable playing Division I basketball.”
