CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The 2021-22 campaign and the Nate James era of Austin Peay men's basketball begins on Tuesday night as the Govs host UT Southern inside the Winfield Dunn Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN Plus.
Tuesday, Nov. 9 • 7:00 p.m. • Clarksville, Tenn. • Winfield Dunn Center
Austin Peay Governors (0-0, 0-0 OVC) vs. UT Southern Firehawks (1-0, 0-0 MSC)
Series Record vs. UT Southern: Austin Peay leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 30, 1995 • Clarksville, Tenn. • Austin Peay 98, UT Southern 81
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Govs Sports Network (Brian Rives – PBP / Van Stokes – Color)
Stations: 104.1 FM/540 AM
WATCH LIVE: ESPN Plus (Barry Gresham - PBP, Bob Belvin – Color)
SCOUTING THE GOVS
Austin Peay opens the 2021-22 campaign with its second meeting all-time against UT Southern. The Govs return six student-athletes from last year's squad that went 14-13 and 10-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play. APSU is coming off a 92-63 victory over Life University in its lone exhibition contest last Thursday. All but four who saw the court scored against Life as the Govs shot a staggering 51.4 percent from the field.
SCOUTING THE FIREHAWKS
UT Southern enters Tuesday's contest with a win already under its belt, defeating Fisk in its home opener, 71-60 last Thursday. The Firehawks are coming off a 16-9 record last season and are led by sophomore guard Adarion Hudson who led the team a year ago at 18.0 points per game. The Firehawks are led by former Gov Dugan Lyne who spent two seasons in Clarksville as a Graduate Assistant and Director of Basketball Operations.
HOME SWEET HOME
Austin Peay has won five straight home openers and eight of the last nine. During the five-game home opener win streak, the Govs are winning by an average of 53.4 points per game. Since 1960, the Govs are 46-15 in home openers.
SEEKING WIN NO. 1
Head coach Nate James looks to capture his first victory at the helm of the Austin Peay men's basketball program against UT Southern. James can become the first Austin Peay head coach to win his coaching debut since 1983.
VETERAN PRESENCE
The returning leading scorer for the Govs this season is junior Carlos Paez who averaged 8.9 points per game a year ago. Paez was near automatic from the free-throw line last season, breaking his own single-season free-throw percentage mark, shooting 89.1 percent from the charity stripe.
SILVER RETURNS HOME
After stints at Oregon State, Tallahassee Community College and Eastern Michigan, redshirt senior and Clarksville, Tenn., native Tariq Silver will suit up for the Govs this season. Silver has played in 78 career games including 23 last season with Oregon State during its Elite Eight run.
PROTECT HOME COURT
The Govs have won double-digit home games in three of the last four seasons including a program-record 14 during the 2019-20 campaign.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Since the 2010-11 season the Govs have compiled a record of 145-79 when scoring 70 or more points … Over the past five seasons, APSU is 61-15 when leading at the half … the Govs have made at least one three-pointer in 609 straight games.
UP NEXT
Following Tuesday's contest, the Govs hit the road for the first time this season to square off with Southern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 12. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Banterra Center.
GET YOUR TICKETS!
Season tickets for the 2021-22 campaign are on sale now. Please visit letsgopeay.com/buytickets or contact the Govs Ticket Office at 931-221-PEAY (7329) for more information.
FOLLOW THE GOVS
For all the latest information on Austin Peay Athletics, please visit letsgopeay.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Govs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
