MURRAY, Ky.-Murray State overcame a 10-point first-half deficit by running off 27 unanswered points to defeat Austin Peay State University, 27-17, in Ohio Valley Conference football action, Saturday afternoon in Roy Stewart Stadium.  

The loss drops APSU to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the OVC while Murray State improves to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the OVC.

Austin Peay jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first half, scoring on a 52-yard Stephen Stansell field goal and a 30-yard Terrence Holt run.

But right before halftime APSU failed to convert on a fourth-down play near midfield. The Racers, who had been silent offensively much of the first half, drove it 50 yards for a score, with the last 25 coming on a Casey Brockman to Prince Nwagbara pass with 22 seconds left in the half.

That made it 10-7 heading into halftime.

When the Racers defense failed allowed the Govs gain any offensive momentum in the third period when APSU had the wind at its back, the momentum continued to be with Murray State. Kicker Kienan Cullen kicked 34- and 21-yard field goals to give the Racers a lead before Derrick Townsel's 56-yard punt return set up a three-yard Charlie Jordan TD run for a 20-10 Racer advantage.

Then All-America defensive end Austen Lane blew open the game when he returned a Jake Ryan pass 21-yards for a score. Ryan was hit just as he was delivering the pass and Lane found opened field to his right and raced for the score.

Terrence Holt returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown but it was too little too late as APSU lost its second straight game.

Holt, the Football Championship Subdivision leader in all-purpose yards, finished with 241 yards on the day, including a team-best 77 rushing yards.  

Freshman quarterback Jake Ryan finished 13 of 25 passes for 192 yards and two interceptions. He hooked up with junior Adrian Mines seven times for 119 yards. But the Governors, who 293 yards total offense, were just 1-of-15 on third-down conversions compared to 6-of-16 by Murray State. The Govs inability to convert third downs was paramount in the second half, in particular the third period, when they converted just one of eight-they were just one of four with the wind in the third period.

Defensively, Daniel Becker led the Governors with 13 tackles, including two sacks, while safety Amius Smith had six, including a forced fumble. Tremayne Townsend and Kevis Buckley each had their season's first interceptions.

Brockman, making his first college start for Murray, completed 18 of 33 passes for 216 yards. Townsend caught five passes to become Murray State's all-time receptions leader with 147.

Lane, meanwhile, became the program's all-time sacks leader with two against the Govs, giving him 29 on his career.

-AP-