COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University got off to a quick start but it was Tennessee Tech with the finishing kick as the Governors fell, 94-90, Thursday night in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Hooper Eblen Center.
It was the Govs' third straight OVC road defeat and their fifth straight road loss overall as APSU fell to 10-10 overall and 4-4 in the OVC. Tennessee Tech, meanwhile, playing the first of a four-game homestand, improved to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in the OVC.
The Govs lost despite shooting 53.1 percent (34 of 64) because Tennessee Tech shot 55.6 percent (35 of 63) itself and outrebounded the Govs, 41-34, including grabbing nine second-half offensive rebounds.
The Governors got off to a roaring first-half start, leading by as much as 12 points, 34-22, parlaying six three pointers to build the advantage-the sixth coming from freshman Justin Blake with 8:04 left in the half. However, by half's end the lead shrank to one, 44-43, as the Governors failed to control Frank Davis' perimeter shooting and the combined inside work of Terrell Barnes and Alfred Jones.
The Governors pushed the lead out to three points at second half's start but two straight turnovers allowed Davis to tie it at 46 on a three pointer with 17:41 left. The two teams would trade the lead over the next four minutes before Davis broke a 53-53 tie with a three pointer APSU would not lead again.
The Golden Eagles extended the lead to as much as eight points before the Govs chipped away at the margin, cutting it to four points 71-67, on a Tyrone Caldwell layup with 7:35 left. But the Golden Eagles went on a 14-5 run as freshman guard Jud Dillard, who finished with 23 points on 11-of-12 shooting, hit four layups for the home team during the stretch as Tennessee Tech held a 13-point lead with 3:17 remaining.
The Governors scrapped back in the final minute to make it interesting, trimming the deficit to three points with 18 seconds left. But Frank Davis and Elijah Muhammad made four straight free throws to close it out.
Blake led the Govs with 20 points, his first career 20-point outing. He finished 8-of-12 from the floor in his second straight start. Meanwhile, Anthony Campbell added 19 points followed by Tyrone Caldwell and Wes Channels each with 16 points. The 16 points were a Caldwell career high.
In addition to the lack of rebounding and second-half defense creating APSU woes, the Govs also committed 10 second-half turnovers.
Davis led the Golden Eagles with 23 points, followed by Dillard. Tennessee Tech also got a double-double from Jones (12 points and 12 rebounds).
-AP-
