CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay is literally back to where it started. And the Governors hope to find a better answer the second time around.,
For the second time in a little more than two weeks, the Govs will face old rival Middle Tennessee. On Nov. 11, the Govs opened the 2011-12 season with a 80-71 loss in Murfreesboro.
Saturday's 7 p.m. contest will serve as an opener of a second sort for APSU-the home opener.
Since that first game the two teams have been heading in different directions. Middle Tennessee is off to its best start since 1987-88 with a 5-1 record that includes wins on the road over UCLA and Loyola Marymount. LaRon Dendy, the 6-10 Iowa State transfer who hurt the Govs inside in the opener, is leading the way with a 15.5 ppg and is shooting better than 60 percent from the floor. Marcos Knight is at 13.8 ppg while JT Sulton also is averaging in double figures at 12.7 ppg.
APSU, meanwhile, still is seeking its first victory, entering the contest with a 0-6 record after dropping a 94-93 overtime decision to Detroit in the final game of the College Basketball Experience Classic in Bowling Green, Ohio. It marked the second straight near-miss for the Govs, who lost the previous night to George Washington, 54-52.
Although the Govs are winless, the good news is they appeared to have found their offensive footing against Detroit. For only the second time all season long the Govs shot better than 40 percent from the floor, connecting on 36 of 73 shots (49.3 percent).
The Governors also overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to force overtime. Forward Melvin Baker compiled his career's best performance against Detroit, scoring a career-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds in recording his career's third career double-double.
Guard TyShwan Edmondson led all scorers with 22 points, including the game-tying three pointer that forced overtime.
Meanwhile, forward Josh Terry, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored all 14 of his points in the final half while collecting five steals and four assists. All in all the Governors placed five players in double figures.
Governors Pardon
- This is Austin Peay's 80th season of basketball.
- Dave Loos, APSU's all-time winningest basketball coach, also is the OVC's all-time wins leader with 351 victories. He also has 433 career coaching wins.
- The Dave Aaron Arena playing floor was named Dave Loos Court, Summer 2007. Loos is believed to be one of only three current Division I men's coaches who are coaching on courts that bear their respective names-Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim-are the other two. Valparaiso's Homer Drew, who retired after the 2010-11 season, had the floor named after him last season.
- Since 1993-94, Austin Peay has finished no worse than fifth in the OVC standings.
- Austin Peay has reached at least the OVC tournament semifinals in 13 of the last 17 years.
