RICHMOND, Ky.-Austin Peay State University could not overcome a 17-point halftime deficit as it fell to Eastern Kentucky, 76-71, Monday night, in Ohio Valley Conference basketball action played at McBrayer Arena.
The loss dropped the Govs to the .500 mark at 8-8 and 2-2 in the OVC while Eastern Kentucky moves to 10-5 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Shooting just 36.4 percent (8 of 22) and committing nine turnovers, the Governors again fell behind by double digits in the opening half-the 11th time they have trailed by 10 or more first-half points against Division I opponents. Eastern Kentucky hit seven first-half three pointers compared to APSU's zero to build the sizable lead.
But the Govs, as has been their practice much of the season, found second-half momentum, this time by scoring the initial 11 points of the final half, cutting the deficit to six before Willie Cruz hit the Colonels' eight three-pointer of the night to bring it back to 11. ]
The Govs remained within reasonable striking distance much of the second half before making one final push late in the game. Trailing 67-56 with 3:39 remaining, the Govs ripped off seven straight points, four by point guard Caleb Brown.
Right before Brown's bucket with 2:32 left, star senior guard Wesley Channels fouled out.
Still the Govs had a shot to complete the comeback but Josh Taylor doused those hopes-he stepped back behind the three-point line at the top of the key with 2:08 left to nail a momentum-turning shot that made it a seven-point contest. The Govs could not get closer than five in the final two minutes.
The Govs actually finished the night shooting better than 50 percent (26 of 53), despite the miserable first half because of 18-of-31 second-half shooting. But the Govs could hit just one three pointer (1 of 15) all night long compared to 12 (27 attempts) by the Colonels.
Sophomore forward Anthony Campbell helped fuel APSU's second-half comeback, scoring 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. Campbell, one of APSU's top three-point specialists, made just one of eight three pointers, having four rim in and out.
Channels finished with 17 points before fouling out while junior forward Duran Roberson and sophomore center John Fraley added 11 apiece.
Taylor led the Colonels with 19 points while Papa Oppong added 14 and Joshua Jones 12.
The Governors return right back to OVC action, 7:30 p.m., Thursday when they play host to UT Martin.
-AP-
