Men's Basketball | December 06, 2019
CLARKSVILLE—Austin Peay State University men's basketball team will host North Florida in a 4 p.m., Saturday, contest in the penultimate home non-conference contest.
One of the nation's most prolific three-point shooting teams, North Florida comes in with quality home victories against Southern Miss and High Point but without a true road victory since last season. The Ospreys also lost to another Ohio Valley Conference foe, Tennessee State, at the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational, Nov. 29.
Saturday is also Austin Peay's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Help-An-Elf Night. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the contest and receive free admission.
Scouting the Ospreys
North Florida will live and die by the three-point line. The Ospreys lead the nation in three-pointers made and attempted, and this all-in assault from beyond the arc leads to predictable, if not predictive, results. When the threes are going in, the Ospreys win–North Florida is averaging 14.3 three-pointers on 41.1 percent from deep in its six wins and 10.3 three-pointers on 33.6 percent in its four losses. Guarding the three-ball will be a key against North Florida.
With just one player standing 6-8 or taller, North Florida is susceptible inside, averaging just 2.7 blocks per game. And while they defend the arc well, the Ospreys are allowing 50.8 percent shooting from the floor on two-pointers, meaning Eli Abaev, Terry Taylor and the Governor bigs will need room to maneuver down low.
Last Time Against North Florida
Despite 28 points and 17 rebounds from Chris Horton, Austin Peay dropped an 80-70 contest to the Ospreys, Dec. 16, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. While Horton hit 13-of-19 shot attempts from the floor, the rest of the Govs combined for just 30 percent (16-of-53) from the field. A North Florida outfit who was leading the nation in three-pointers–much like this year's Ospreys–hit just 4-of-19 from deep in that outing.
Keep An Eye On…
- Austin Peay's Eli Abaev and North Florida's Ezekiel Balgoun were teammates at Eastern Florida State College, helping the Titans to a third-place finish at the 2018 NJCAA National Championship.
- Austin Peay's loss to Arkansas was a rarity under Figger and at large–a defeat when surrendering fewer than 70 points. It snapped a streak of 20 straight wins when holding an opponent below 70 points and dropped the Govs to 24-1 under Figger when surrendering fewer than 70 points. Since the start of 2010-11, the Govs are 72-23 when holding opponents below 70 points.
- The extended three-point line hasn't bothered North Florida; the Ospreys lead the nation in three-pointers made (127), attempted (331) and per game (12.7).
- Taylor is averaging 27.3 points on 67.3 percent shooting, with 10.0 rebounds over the last three games.
- A win would make the Govs 4-0 to start the home schedule in back to back seasons for the first time since 2002-03 and 2003-04.
- Milestone Watch: Taylor needs 13 shot attempts to pass Maurice Hampton for 19th all-time. Four made free-throws would move him into the top-30, and 16 rebounds would move him into 12 all-time, past Adrian Henning. He still needs one blocked shot to take sole possession of 10th place in program history.
They Said It
Tickets, please
Governors Courtside Seating returns for the 2019-20 season. Fans can contact the APSU Athletics Ticket Office for courtside seating availability and pricing. The VIPeay Hoops Experience, available to Black Tie Monocle Society members and above, also returns for 2019-20 after a successful debut last season. For more information on joining the Governors in the Dunn Center this winter, to secure season tickets or to become involved with the Monocle Society, call 931-221-PEAY.
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 the ESPN+ app. ESPN Clarksville (104.1 FM/540 AM) will carry the radio broadcast locally and online.
