By: Colby Wilson, Associate Director of Athletics Communications
CLARKSVILLE—Austin Peay State University men's basketball team will lace it up to compete for the 2020 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament title, beginning with an 8:30 p.m., Thursday, quarterfinal matchup against sixth-seeded Eastern Illinois.
The Govs look to get back to the OVC Championship game for the first time since 2016 after agonizingly close semifinal finishes in 2018 and 2019—both against Belmont. This year, the Govs enter the fray loaded with firepower, with OVC Player of the Year Terry Taylor and Freshman of the Year Jordyn Adams leading the charge for Austin Peay.
For those making the trek to Evansville, a couple of reminders: the Ford Center in Evansville, site of this year's event, has instituted a clear bag policy. Children under the age of two may enter the Ford Center free of charge, provided they sit the lap of a parent/guardian. And all doors to the Ford Center open one hour prior to the first game of each session.
Scouting the Tournament
The Govs are 7-4 against the field this season, splitting the season series against Murray State, Belmont, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State and taking one each from Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State. The Govs have faced the other seven teams in the tournament field at least once since 2012, with two exceptions—Eastern Kentucky (2008) and Murray State (2009), the latter of whom the Govs would see in the semifinal round. All-time, Austin Peay is 24-23 in tournament competition against the field set to compete for the 2020 title.
Scouting the Panthers
To be the best, you've got to beat the best and nobody has been as hot as Eastern Illinois over the last month or so of the season. The Panthers have won five straight after dispatching Jacksonville State in the OVC Tournament quarterfinals, including double-digit comeback wins against the Govs and Murray State two weeks ago.
All-OVC choice Josiah Wallace has gone bananas over this stretch; the Marshall, Illinois native is averaging 22.0 ppg, hitting numerous big shots to keep the Panthers in the game. He's been aided by fellow all-league choices Mack Smith–still the proud owner of the longest streak with a three in the nation–and George DIxon, an All-Newcomer selection whose 8.7 boards per night has him on the shortlist of rebounders who can go toe-to-toe with Austin Peay's Terry Taylor and Eli Abaev.
As they proved both against Jacksonville State in the opening round–the Gamecocks shot just 37,5 percent from the floor and committed 15 turnovers–Eastern Illinois is going to defend. The Panthers make life unbearable, coming in as the only OVC team ranked among the nation's top-100 in both blocked shots and steals. The Panthers force 15.4 turnovers per night, second only to Eastern Kentucky's frustrating press, Watch for Marvin Johnson to be a difference-maker for the Panthers defensively, likely drawing plenty of time against Jordyn Adams.
One place the Govs have a decided advantage is at the charity stripe. Eastern Illinois' 66.3 mark at the line ranks the Panthers 307th nationally; the Govs 72.3 mark is nearly 200 spots higher and significantly better if its close late on Thursday.
Last Time at the OVC Basketball Championships
The Govs advanced to the semifinals last season before falling to Belmont in an 83-67 loss, March 8, 2019. The Govs exorcised that particular demon earlier this year when they toppled the Bruins in an 86-78 win in the Dunn Center, Jan. 25. However, the Govs still seek their first trip to the title game since 2016; Austin Peay has been semifinalists the last two seasons, losing to the Bruins both times. Austin Peay cannot meet the Bruins until the title game this time around, but the Govs will need to handle either Eastern Illinois or Jacksonville State first in order to set up a semifinal meeting with Murray State.
Last Time Out Against Eastern Illinois
In its first overtime contest in more than a year, Austin Peay outshot and outrebounded Eastern Illinois in a contest that changed hands 11 times and needed the extra period to get sorted out. Unfortunately, 20 Austin Peay turnovers and another strong effort by Josiah Wallace allowed Eastern Illinois to overcome its second double-digit deficit of the weekend in an 83-80 win in Charleston.
Keep An Eye On…
- A win would put the Govs in the OVC Tournament semifinals for the third straight season, the longest streak of semifinal or better appearances for Austin Peay since 2000-05.
- Taylor and Adams are just the third pairing in OVC history to win Player and Freshman of the Year in the same season; both previous times (1994 Tennessee State, 2008 UT Martin), the duo reached at least the OVC Tournament semifinals.
- Taylor (21.4 ppg) and Adams (17.8 ppg) have combined to average 39.2 points per night, the third-highest average by a pair of teammates in Division I.
- In Austin Peay's 20 wins, freshman Carlos Paez is averaging 8.6 points on 44.3 percent from the floor and 40.7 percent from three, handing out 4.1 assists to just 1.2 turnovers. In losses, Paez is at 3.5 points on 17.9 percent from the field and 15.0 percent from three, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of slightly less than 2-to-1.
- Redshirt junior Eli Abaev is averaging 9.6 rebounds over the last 11 games, with four double-doubles in his last five outings.
- The Govs are at plus-5.5 in average rebound margin and plus-2.0 in turnover margin since OVC play began
- Milestone Watch—Career: Taylor needs 31 points to become the fourth player in program history to score 1,900 in his career. He needs five steals to become just the fifth player in program history with 100 blocks and 100 steals in his career.
- Milestone Watch—Season: With 29 points, Taylor would pass Trenton Hassell (2000-01) for second all-time in single-season scoring by an Austin Peay junior. With 11 rebounds, he would pass Tommy Brown (1990-91) for third on the single-season list.
They Said It
Tickets, Please
All-session packages for the 2020 OVC Basketball Tournament are now available through the Austin Peay ticket office for $80, with single-session packages available for $30 for men's contests.
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.
