JACKSONVILLE, Ala?Drake Reed scored 30 points, including a game-clinching long-range three pointer, and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Austin Peay State University to a 72-60 Ohio Valley Conference road win Tuesday night at Peter Mathews Coliseum.
The victory improved APSU to 15-11 overall and 11-5 in the OVC. Jacksonville State fell to 11-15 overall and 5-12 in the OVC.
Reed, the 6-5 senior, scored 20 of his game-high point total in the second half as he literally took over the contest. In fact, at one second-half stretch the two-time first-team All-OVC choice scored eight straight points and 18 of APSU's final 26 points.
None was more important than his three pointer with 58 seconds left. After the Gamecocks cut APSU's lead to seven with 1:35 left, the Governors were near shot clock end against a revved up JSU defense when Reed launched a desperation three pointer from nearly 35 feet and it swished through to give APSU a 10-point lead with under a minute left.
Reed finished the night 11 of 20 from the field, including two three pointers, while going a perfect six-for-six from the free-throw line. Those six makes gave him 451 for his career, allowing him to move past Tom Morgan for the most career makes in APSU history.
Reed took over after the Govs literally blew a 28-21 halftime and trailed by six, 38-32, with 14:38 left in the contest. First it was redshirt freshman John Fraley and freshman Anthony Campbell making a couple of big shots before Reed tied it at 43 with a layup. Then Wes Channels hit his game's only three pointer to give APSU the lead for good, 46-43, before Reed followed by his first career four-point play?getting fouled after making a three-point shot.
JSU would not get closer than two points the game's remainder as Reed took over in the final six minutes.
Campbell finished as APSU's only other double-figure scorer with 11 points.
The Governors finished the night shooting 53.8 percent (28 of 52) while holding JSU to 41.8 percent (23 of 55). Jonathan Toles and Jeremy Bynum each scored 13 points to lead JSU.
-AP-
