Box Score MARTIN, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's bench combined for 47 points as the Governors defeated UT Martin, 85-67, Thursday night in Ohio Valley Conference basketball action played at the Elam Center.
The victory improved the Governors to 11-19 overall and 7-8 in the OVC. The Governors entered the night needing either an Eastern Illinois loss or an APSU victory to qualify for their 28th straight OVC tournament. Although EIU's loss at Morehead State earlier in the night allowed the Govs to qualify, the Govs coaching staff chose not to inform the players to make sure they maintained their focus.
However, it took the work of the Governors reserves to energize APSU's first-half effort. Trailing 12-5, APSU head coach Dave Loos turned to freshman guard Herdie Lawrence and junior guard Justin Blake. The duo sparked a 14-2 run, each scoring five points (both had threes during the stretch) to give Austin Peay an advantage it would never relinquish.
When UT Martin made a run to get closer, the Govs turned to another reserve, freshman forward Chris Freeman, who completed a three-point play to extend APSU's lead back to five, 22-17.
By half's end, the trio had 26 points-Lawrence 10 while Blake and Freeman each had eight-as APSU built a 43-30 lead.
With Will Triggs joining the fray in the second half, the bench scored 21 more points. But it was the starters, in particular center John Fraley and forward Josh Terry, who helped navigate the Govs through some treacherous territory.
When UT Martin whittled APSU's lead down to four points, 49-45, it was Fraley who worked his way inside to extend the lead to six and then Terry hit a free throw to make it a seven-point game. But the Skyhawks hung close and it again took Lawrence and Blake to break the game open.
With APSU leading by six, 59-53, midway through the half, Lawrence knocked down a jumper before Blake's only second-half three pointer extended the lead to 11. After UTM cut it back to single digits, Triggs knocked down a pair of free throws with 8:13 left to extend the lead back to 11, 66-55. UTM would never cut the deficit to single digits again.
Lawrence finished the night with a season-best 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Blake added 11 and Freeman a career-best 10. For the night Austin Peay's bench outscored UTM, 47-10.
Fraley added 16 points and Terry 15 to five APSU five players in double figures for the first time since the Detroit game, last Nov. 23.
The Govs finished the night 30-of-54 (55.6 percent) from the floor.
Mike Liabo led all scorers for UTM with 27 points while Dane Smith added 16.
The loss dropped the Skyhawks to 4-26 overall and 0-15 in the OVC.
-AP-
