BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- Austin Peay couldn't overcome its own slow start and Samford scoring first-half shooting as it fell to the Bulldogs, 63-49, in Ohio Valley Conference action played at the new Pete Hanna Center, Saturday night.

The loss drops the first-place Govs to 13-8 overall and 9-2 in the OVC. Samford improves to 10-11 overall, 6-6 in the OVC.

The Governors didn't score their first field goal until 13:11 in the first half and struggled with a 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) first half while Samford shot 60 percent (15 of 25) as the Bulldogs built a 39-20 halftime advantage. 

The Governors could not get the deficit below 11 points in the second half as Samford continued to limit APSU to just 36 percent (9 of 25) shooting.

After playing back-to-back games where they put six players and five players in double figures, the Govs could only place one player, Derek Wright, in twin figures. Wright finished with 17 points.

Joe Ross Merritt led all scorers with 19 points while Trey Montgomery added 17 and Josh Bedwell 16.

-AP-