CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University men's basketball team clinched at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title as it defeated Tennessee Tech, 80-76, Saturday night in Dave Aaron Arena.
The victory improves the Governors to 18-9 overall, 14-3 in the OVC. The Governors need one win in their final three games?all on the road?to clinch the title outright as Murray State sits in second place at 12-6.
Tennessee Tech falls to 12-17 overall, 9-10 in the OVC, falling into seventh place in the league race. .
It was a contest that saw the Governors comeback during the game's final stages after watching the visiting Golden Eagles rally from a 10-point second-half deficit to take a two-point lead on two different occasions. The visitors still led 68-67with 5:44 left when Todd Babington, kept in check most of the night, knocked down a three pointer from the left corner to give APSU a 70-68 advantage for good with 5:22 left.
The Governors would extend that advantage back out to six but could never really shake the Golden Eagles down the stretch as the Governors, the OVC's second-best free-throw shooting team entering the contest, could make only 5 of 12 in the game's final four minutes. The Govs finished the night just 19 of 34 (55.9 percent) at the line.
However, Wes Channels' free throw with 15 seconds left made it a four-point game, 80-76, with 15 seconds to finally put away the game. Derek Wright's seventh and final steal in the closing seconds ended any Golden Eagles hopes. Wright became APSU's single-season steals record holder early in the second half, passing LaMonte Ware (68/1988-89). He now has 75 on the season.
Wright, in fact, led the Governors with 18 points and five assists to go with the seven steals. Drake Reed tallied his season's sixth double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. His rebounding effort was key as fellow frontliner Fernandez Lockett was in foul trouble all night long before fouling out with 2:19 left.
Kyle Duncan, who had the task of guarding Golden Eagles' talented point guard Anthony Fisher most of the night, finished with 15 points on five-of-six shooting.
Five Golden Eagles scored in double figures, led by Will Barnes' 18 points. Amadi McKenzie added 14 while Daniel Northern contributed 13 point and 10 rebounds.
The contest reversed field in the two halves. In the opening half, the Governors shot 56.7 percent (17 of 30) while tallying 47 points. Tennessee Tech, meanwhile, shot 53.8 percent (14 of 26), including 7 of 13 from three-point range.
In the second half, Tennessee Tech shot just 9 of 25 (36 percent) while APSU was slightly better (38.5 percent, 10 of 26).
The victory culminated a day that saw APSU head coach Dave Loos inducted into APSU's Athletics Hall of Fame during a breakfast ceremony. His family, along with fellow inductee, former track star Ayesha Maycock, were introduced at halftime.
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