JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -Playing shorthanded, Austin Peay State University's basketball team needed overtime as it escaped with a 66-64 victory, Saturday afternoon, at Jacksonville State in Ohio Valley Conference action in Pete Mathews Coliseum.
The Govs improved to 11-10 overall with a 5-4 league mark. It was APSU's first OVC road win in 2009-10 and snapped a five-game road losing streak. Meanwhile, JSU fell to 8-11 overall and 4-5 in the OVC.
John Barnes came up short a potential game-winning three-pointer at the final buzzer after the Govs outscored the Gamecocks 11-9 in extra period. It was a survival game for the Govs, who played without starting forward Anthony Campbell (ankle) and reserve forward Marcel Williams (ankle) and then made only 5-of-12 free throws in overtime. After having only three free-throw attempts in regulation, it was a struggle to shake the rust at the end.
The Govs led for most of the game as it was a tale of runs for both sides. Austin Peay ran off 11-0 after the opening tip, but Jacksonville State answered with a 10-2 run, cutting the Govs lead to two points, 23-21 at the 7:43 mark. Austin Peay took a 38-31 lead into the break as three Governors, Wesley Channels (11 points), Justin Blake (11 points) and Duran Roberson (10 points) all were in double figures. Roberson, making only his second career start, replaced Campbell, APSU's second-leading scorer (15.6 ppg) in the lineup.
The hot shooting looked to continue early in the second half as the Govs opened with an 8-2 run. The Govs, however, would score only two points over the next 11-plus minutes and, as a result, it allowed JSU to go on a 10-0 to make it 46-43 at the 12:19 mark as fatigue started to set in on the bench-short Govs.
It wasn't until 8:26 to play that Jacksonville State managed to tie the game at 48-48 capping what developed into a 15-2 run. The Gamecocks took their first lead, 50-48, with 5:44 to play on a Amadou Mbdoji dunk. A layup by John Fraley made it a one-point game before a Channels three pointer tied it with 3:34 left.
After JSU regained the lead, Tyrone Caldwell tied it on driving layup with 1:56 left. Neither team scored the remainder of the way as Channels bid to win it in regulation came up short thanks to a physical JSU defense.
Two three-point plays by Channels and Blake and a layup by Roberson made it a seven-point game with 57 seconds left. Then Channels fouled out, taking the Govs best available free-throw shooter off the floor.
It made things interesting as Roberson missed a pair of free throws in the final minute while guard Caleb Brown hit two-of-six.
Channels led the Govs with 23 points and 10 rebounds, his second career double-double. Roberson recorded his first career double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Blake also posted his third straight double-figure scoring effort with 14 points.
John Fraley made it three Govs with double-figure rebounds with a team-best 11.
OVC-leading scorer Trenton Marshall, held scoreless in the first half, led JSU with 17 points while Mbodji added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Govs, who shot 53.1 percent (17 of 32) in the first half, connected on just 29.2 percent (7 of 24) in the second half. The Govs also committed eight of its 14 turnovers in the second half.
-AP-
