CLARKSVILLE—After throttling Oakland City in the home opener, Austin Peay State University men's basketball hosts UNC Asheville to close out the 2017 NIT Season Tip-Off, 2 p.m., Sunday, in the Dunn Center.
With two games in the books against high-major opponents and National Christian College Athletic Association foe Oakland City, the Governors finally find some common ground against mid-major UNC Asheville out of the Big South, albeit from an unfamiliar source—the Govs have not played a Big South opponent since the 2013-14 season.
Sunday's contest—the middle of a four-game homestand for the Govs, which includes a home contest against Bethel at Fort Campbell's Shaw Fitness Center, Wednesday—is a flipped doubleheader, with the men's basketball team tipping off at 2 p.m. ahead of the women's contest against Trevecca at 4:30 p.m.
Scouting UNC Asheville
Despite their 1-2 start, the Bulldogs have proven a stingy defensive unit, holding opponents to 27.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The work under the boards has been shared by many during the early part of the season--in outrebounding opponents by more than eight rebounds per game, five Bulldogs are averaging at least four rebounds per contest. And the scoring burden has been passed around, with six UNC Asheville players averaging at least eight points per game.
Last Time Out Against the Bulldogs
Long ago, the Governors hosted UNC Asheville and emerged with a 79-71 win in the early years of the Dunn Center. Rigorous attempts to locate a box score went for nought; it was the final year of the Ed Thompson era, which saw the Govs go 8-18.
Keep An Eye On…
- Gumm Shoe: Dayton Gumm's 25 points were the most by an Austin Peay freshman since Will Triggs had 25 against Tennessee Tech in 2011. With Gumm (twice) and Terry Taylor (once) leading the Govs in scoring during the season's opening three contests, it marks the first time since at least the turn of the century a freshman has led Austin Peay in scoring in three straight games.
- The Govs seek to start the home portion of the schedule with back-to-back victories for the second year in a row.
- The Governors, who are hitting 29.2 percent from beyond the arc through three games, will face a difficult test against a Bulldog defense limiting opponents to 27.1 percent from three.
- Austin Peay's bench has accounted for at least 20 points in all three contests this season; the Governor bench produced 20 or more points just four times in 2016-17.
They Said It
Tickets, Please
Season ticket prices for the upcoming 20-date, 32-game home slate will vary depending upon the Governors Club membership level maintained; the higher level of Governors Club membership, the greater the discount that will be applied for season tickets. Included in the season ticket plan are 17 men's games and 15 women's contests.
Fans can purchase their season tickets or Govs Club memberships by contact the Governors Athletics Ticket Office at (931) 221-PEAY [7329] or by email at tickets@apsu.edu.
Govs Online
Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay's Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all Governor athletics, as well as the Governor men's basketball Twitter page (@AustinPeayMBB). Live stats will be available during the game at PeayStats.com, and all home games and Ohio Valley Conference games can be viewed on www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com. Postgame video interviews and other videos from around APSU Athletics can be found on our YouTube page (www.youtube.com/letsgopeay).
