CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Chris Horton scored 21 points and Josh Robinson added 18 points as Austin Peay State University pulled away in the second half from Thomas More in an 85-64 exhibition victory, Monday night, in men's basketball action played in Dave Aaron Arena.

The 6-8 Horton scored 14 first-half points against the smaller Saints but foul trouble slowed the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection in the second half. Robinson, meanwhile, picked up the slack with 13 second-half points as APSU broke open a five-point halftime advantage into a 20-point second-half contest. Freshman Jared Savage added 15 points and five rebounds to supplement Horton's 12-rebound effort.

"They (Thomas More) really shot the ball well, especially early (the Saints connected on eight first-half three pointers)," said APSU coach Dave Loos after watching his team fall behind by seven points in the opening half. "But we stayed after them and got better defensively. They kind of wore down. I was pleased with how we stayed with it defensively.

"Obviously, we need to be able to make some free throws."

With the new officiating rules emphasizing less contact, in particular hand checking, Thomas More was whistled for 35 fouls and the Govs 17. APSU, however, connected on just 28 of 46 (61 percent) from the free-throw line, just 14 of 25 in the opening half.

"I didn't notice the game being call significantly different," Loos said. "It wasn't like I thought it was going to be. I think they called the hand checks closer than in the past. That was the big difference I saw."

The Governors finished the night 27 of 52 (52 percent) from the floor, with Horton (8 of 10) and Savage (6 of 8) combining for 14 of 18 from the floor. The Govs, who struggled from the perimeter a year ago, connected on just 3 of 13 (23 percent) from the three-point line.

Junior college transfer forward Kenny Jones scored eight points while grabbing six rebound while fellow jucos John Murry and Terrell Thompson added four and three points, respectively. Thompson, the 6-1 point guard, came off the bench to lead the Govs in assists with four.

Daniel Williams led Thomas More with 19 points, including 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

The Govs will cap exhibition play, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, when it plays host to Sewanee.

-AP-