CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University used a 25-4 first-half run and was never headed as the Governors defeated Eastern Kentucky, 71-56, in first-round Ohio Valley Conference tournament action played Tuesday night in Dave Aaron Arena.

The victory allows the Govs to move into OVC tourney semifinals, 6 p.m., Friday, against Tennessee-Martin at Municipal Auditorium. The fourth-seeded Skyhawks needed triple overtime to down Samford, 101-94, also Tuesday night. The other Friday semifinal will pit Murray State and Tennessee State in an 8 p.m. contest.

APSU, now 22-10 on the season, got off to a slow start against the Colonels, trailing 8-4 before utilizing a full-court trapping press that resulted in the Governors scoring the next 12 points. Before the run was over, the Govs led by 19. It would still be a 12-point game, 39-27 at halftime as the Governors defense forced 10 turnovers while collecting eight steals.

Early in the second half the Governors stretched the lead back out to 16 before Eastern Kentucky bounced back to slice it to single digits, 43-34, with 14:16 remaining.

However, the Colonels lost any momentum a little more than a minute later when center Darnell Dialls caught an inadvertent finger in the eye. It resulted in a cut inside the eyelid and a corneal abrasion. The senior would never return and the Govs took almost immediate control. The Govs built a 25-point advantage, 68-43, with 4:30 left and would have their second straight OVC tourney semifinal appearance and 11th in the last 14 seasons.

The Governors placed five players in double figures, led by sophomore forward Ernest Fields, who came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points while grabbing eight rebounds and blocking two shots.

Guard Derek Wright and Kyle Duncan each added 13 while Wes Channels, who also came off the bench, added 12. Fernandez Lockett added 10 points. Wright also had four assists and five steals.

Adam Leonard was EKU's only double-figure scorer with 17 points.

The Govs held the Colonels to 36.5 percent shooting (19 of 52). It was the fifth straight game APSU held the opposition to less than 40 percent shooting. Austin Peay converted 16 Colonel turnovers (12 steals) into 24 points.

The Colonels finished the season with a 14-16 record.

 -AP-