NASHVILLE ? Drake Reed hit two free throws with 0.2 seconds left as Austin Peay State University rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Belmont, 86-84, Monday night, in non-conference basketball action played at the Curb Event Center.

The victory evened both teams' records at 1-1 and it was APSU's fourth straight win in the series. The win also allowed head coach Dave Loos to tie Western Kentucky's E.A. Diddle for most wins as an OVC coach. The Governors will play host to Ohio, 7 p.m., Saturday, in their home opener.

Reed was fouled trying to put in a rebound basketball in the game's closing seconds after a shot by Wes Channels and a tip by Duran Roberson.

In gaining not only their first win but their first road win as well, the Governors had to find a second-half defensive mindset that was not present in the opening half. Belmont shot 51.5 percent in the opening half, including seven three pointers. However, in the second half, Belmont was just 13 of 28, but more importantly made only 3-of-10 from three-point territory. In addition, the Governors forced 13 second-half turnovers after Belmont had only six at the break.

It was the Drake Reed and Wes Channels Show in the second half. Reed, who hammered Belmont inside in the Governors road win a year ago, scored 14 second-half points, going six-of-seven from the floor. Channels, meanwhile, scored 18 final-half points, going four-of-six from three-point range. Channels finished with 25 points, one more than Reed.

Those two were the only APSU double-figure scorers. But head coach Dave Loos also received inspired play from redshirt sophomore Roberson, who played 16 second-half minutes without playing at all in the first. Roberson, in his career's finest effort, had five points and five rebounds to go with two assists.

The first half was a track meet and the Governors hung with the Bruins early in the game. However, the Belmont had too many weapons, depth- and experience-wise , and built a six-point lead 21-15. However, APSU clawed back to tie the game at 27 all, but the Governors, who were 10 of 17 through the eight-minute media timeout , went cold the last 7:03 of the half, making 4 of their last 13 shots.

Meanwhile, Belmont made seven of their last eight in the half, including their final four three pointers to hold a 49-37 lead going into intermission. Jon House led Belmont with 11 points while Alex Renfroe added nine.

APSU was led by Drake Reed's 10 while Wes Channels added seven. Freshman Anthony Campbell, who struggled at Evansville, had six as did Kyle Duncan.

Early in the second half, the Governors appeared to find their offense and their defense, scrambling to get back into the game. After Belmont scored the first two points of the half, the Govs, led by Reed inside, went on a 28-9 run, capped by Tyrone Caldwell's traditional three-point play that put APSU up, 65-60.

But Belmont came back just like a team would that has appeared in three straight NCAA tournaments. They scored seven straight points to put the Bruins back up by two.

APSU responded with buckets by Reed, Channels and Caleb Brown and they would never trail again, building as much as nine-point, 79-70 lead on a Channels three pointer with 4:53 left.

But Belmont came back as the Governors failed to take care of the basketball, turning over the ball six times down the stretch. As a result, Belmont was able to tie the game with 10 seconds left on a conventional three-point play by Alex Renfroe.

That set up the mad scramble in the game's waning seconds.

-AP-