FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.--Austin Peay shot only 37 percent from the field as Stephen F. Austin trounced the Govs, 93-54, Friday, at the Jim Thorpe Classic in Fayetteville, Ark.
The loss dropped the Govs to 5-5 for the season. It was APSU's third straight loss, the longest APSU losing streak since the 2006-07 team opened the season with an 0-3 record. The loss also was the worst by a Governors team since Illinois defeated the Governors, 80-35, in game 2 of the 2006-07 season. The Govs will look to snap the three-game losing streak when they return home for the first time in a month when they played host to Belmont, 7 p.m., Monday, in Dave Aaron Arena.
And the Governors looked like a road weary team at end of a six-game road trip against Stephen F. Austin, which improved to 7-2 on the season. The Lumberjacks were coming off a Hy-vee Classic championship last weekend when they stunned host Drake. They carried that momentum into Friday's contest, although they came out a little sluggish.
In fact, the Governors, despite shooting woes of their own in the early going, jumped out to an 11-6 lead. Stephen F. Austin called time out and then proceeded to go on a 12-2 run and were never headed the game's remainder. The Govs fell behind by as much as 14 in the opening half before going in at halftime down 41-31.
Early in the second half the Governors cut their deficit to single digits, 50-41, with 16:03 left. However, APSU went without a field goal--an Anthony Campbell three pointer--for seven minutes. By then the Govs trailed 66-46 and the contest was out of reach. The Govs shot only 25 percent (7 of 28) in the final half while the Lumberjacks scorched APSU with 66.7 percent (18 of 27) shooting, finishing at 55.9 percent.
Drake Reed led the Govs with 16 points as no other Govenors player reached double digits. Wes Channels scored nine points, while Kyle Duncan, Ernest Fields and Anthony Campbell each added seven points. Marcel Williams, who made the start in place of Fields, finished four points and six rebounds.
Four Lumberjacks scored in double-figures led by Eddie Williams' 25 points. Josh Alexander had 16 points, Matt Kingsley 13 points, eight rebounds, and Walt Harris 11 points on perfect shooting.
-AP-
