DES MOINES, Iowa--Austin Peay State University shot just 26 percent from the floor in the first half and could never recover as it dropped a 71-54 decision to Drake, Saturday, in its ESPNU BracketBusters contest.

The loss dropped the Govs, of the Ohio Valley Conference, to 15-12 overall while Drake, of the Missouri Valley, improved to 17-12.

Austin Peay fell behind early, 6-0, before going on a 13-1 run, capped by a Kyle Duncan traditional three-point play, to own a 13-7 advantage. But consective three-point shots by Josh Young and Josh Parker tied the game at 13 before John Fraley's putback layup gave back the lead to APSU.

But another Drake three pointer, this one by Jonathan Cox, put APSU back on top before Anthony Campbell responded with an APSU layup for 19-18 lead with 6:22 left. 

Drake, however, would end the half on an 18-3 run, including a quartet of three pointers to make it a 36-22 halftime contest. APSU connected on just 8 of 31 first-half shots, including zero-for-eight from three-point range. Drake, which entered the contest in an offensive slump, connected on just 10 of 26 shots, but were 9 of 18 from three-point range, including four by Parker.

APSU could not get closer than 11 points in the second half as the Bulldogs built as much as a 19-point second-half advantage.

Drake Reed led the Govs with 22 points on 10 of 21 shoot. Wes Channels added 12 points. The Govs finished the night 21 of 58 (36.2 percent) from the floor as the 54 points tied for APSU's low point total this season.

Parker led Drake with 19 points as Cox finished with a double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) also for the Bulldogs.

Drake outrebounded the Governors by a whopping 45-25 margin on the night, including 15 offensive grabs.

-AP-