CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman Dez White scored a career-high 26 points and graduate student DeMarcus Sharp registered his third-straight double-double to lead Austin Peay State University basketball to a 79-52 victory against Fisk, Tuesday, on Gary Mathews Court at F&M Bank Arena.
After scoring 16 points through the first two games of his career, White tallied the most points by an APSU freshman since Jordyn Adams scored 27 at Murray State, Feb. 29, 2020. In addition to White's output in the scoring column, Sharp finished second on the team with 14 points, tied for a game-high 10 rebounds, and tallied seven assists in his 34 minutes of action, making him the first Governor to have three-straight double-doubles since APSU alum and current Chicago Bull Terry Taylor had eight-straight during the 2020-21 season.
Five of the Charleston, Missouri native's dishes tonight – and 13 of his 16 on the season – also resulted in APSU triples, as he accounted for 33 points in the win.
White and Sharp were joined by a pair of fellow Govs who scored in double figures, with Dezi Jones and Jalen Ware scoring 12 and 11, respectively. Ware's 11 points were one off his career-high, set last season against Bucknell.
The Governors (2-1) answered an early Fisk (1-2) score with White's first of seven three-pointers on the night. Following five-straight misses after White's triple, Sharp answered with a driving layup to tie the game for the first of four times at five with 15:43 remaining in the first half.
Sharp's layup began a streak of eight-straight points for the Northwestern State transfer, as he gave APSU its second lead of the night at 13-12 with 12:28 remaining in the opening half on a step-back basket.
After the under-12 media timeout, the Govs and Bulldogs traded leads, with Fisk's final advantage of the game coming off a jumper in the paint to take a 16-15 lead. Dezi Jones answered the deficit and put the Govs back in front with a three-pointer from the far corner on a left-handed assist by Sharp along the baseline.
The Govs stretched their lead to 24-19 prior to the penultimate media break of the half following a Jalen Ware authoritative put-back dunk.
Fisk missed their final nine attempts in the final nine attempts of the first half, as the Govs ended the opening frame on a 17-2 run, including a 15-0 run in the final 5:39.
White and Sharp led all scorers with 12 and 10 points, respectively, at the break, while Sharp paced the Govs with six boards, all coming on the defensive end. Hansel Enmanuel was second on the team with his four rebounds, while posting a game-high three offensive rebounds in under 12 minutes of action.
Austin Peay extended its scoring run to 17 out the gate of the second quarter with a second-chance layup by Jones. After Fisk's first score in over nine minutes trimmed the Govs' lead to 18, they answered with eight-straight points courtesy of a Daniel Loos offensive-rebound putback and back-to-back triples by White.
Ja'Monta Black was the next Gov to connect from long-range, with his three-pointer with 16:07 remaining giving APSU a 52-27 lead.
The Bulldogs made six of their seven shots from the field between 13:26-9:29 and would cut its deficit to as few as 20 less than a minute later; however, that was the closest the game would get, as APSU connected on six of its final eight shots, beginning with back-to-back jumpers by White and Sharp with under seven minutes remaining.
Dezi Jones scored APSU's 10th and final triple of the evening with 4:25 led to put the Govs up 27, while two-straight Ware put-back dunks kept the scoring going in the Govs' favor.
Hansel Enmanuel then did what he does best. Isolation play, moved to the right, cut left, blew past his defender, slam dunk. Roll the film. A perfect ending to a 27-point win on the home court.
The Difference
Those second-chance points. Austin Peay scored 23 second-chance points, while holding the Bulldogs to zero.
Up Next
A four-game 12-day road trip is next on deck for the Governors. The extended trip tips off with an 8 p.m. (CT) matchup against UTEP in the regional round of the 2023 SoCal Challenge, before the Govs then travel to San Juan Capistrano, California for a game against Tarleton State.
What the Peayple are Saying
Inside the Box Score
- Austin Peay picked up its first win in as many opportunities against Fisk and improves to 2-0 against first-time opponents this season.
- Corey Gipson improved to 2-0 at home this season and is the second coach since Lake Kelly (1985) to accomplish the feat.
- Dez White's 26 points are the second-most by a Governor this season, trailing only Ja'Monta Black's 27 points in the season opener against Life.
- Dez White's 26 points are the most by an Austin Peay freshman since Jordyn Adams had 27 at Murray State, Feb. 29, 2020.
- Dez White's seven three-pointers are the second most by a Governor this season, trailing only Ja'Monta Black's program-record-tying nine triples against Life.
- Dez White's seven three-pointers also are the most by an APSU freshman since Jordyn Adams hit seven at UT Martin, Jan. 18, 2020.
- DeMarcus Sharp's seven assists are with his own mark against Life for the most by a Gov this season.
- DeMarcus Sharp's 14-point, 10-rebound outing also made him the first Gov with three-straight double-doubles since Terry Taylor had eight-straight, Feb. 4-20, 2020.
- Austin Peay's 32 made field goals are its most since making 37 against Kentucky Christian, Dec. 6, 2022.
- The Govs' 43 rebounds also are the most since having 58 in that same game against Kentucky Christian.
- Austin Peay's six blocks are the most since recording 11 against South Carolina State, Nov. 25, 2019.
- DeMarcus Sharp assisted on five three-pointers for the second time this season
Coach's Corner
With head men's basketball coach Corey Gipson
Overall thoughts.… "Overall, I thought our guys were more disciplined tonight. I thought they were more contentious about possession basketball and that is something we have to make sure we stay on top of. A couple of games prior to this game, I thought we got a little out of character about how we took bad, early and quick shots, so we just have to get back into the form of who we are and getting into basketball rhythm. I am actually still getting in rhythm too being here. I have to do a better job as a coach, we have to do a better job as a staff and then our players have to demonstrate what we are emphasizing and controlling and dictating the tempo of the game."
On Dez White… "It has really been about what he has been doing in the early-going defensively. Dez White has been tremendous defensively. He has been better defensively than he has offensively. I want to take note to that because sometimes shooters don't get enough credit when they are good defenders. He has been doing a great job defensively being assignment being correct and his communication, early, loud and often, has been helping our team."
On the upcoming road trip… "Ultimately, we won against George Mason because it allowed for us to hit the reset button and allowed us to go back to our roots and play basketball the right way. Sometimes when it is a perceived win, it is your biggest loss. I thought we lost against Life because there were some things we should have corrected as a staff during the game, that, because we did not correct it, impacted the outcome of the game against George Mason. This game, yes, we got the perceived outcome of a win, but we also did the right things to get an outcome of a win. Sometimes, you can get the outcome without doing the right things and it can affect you later down the road."
On what has impressed him the most about this team… "We are all equally yoked. We are not about independently exemplifying one player over the other, but we have to keep coming together as one and that is what I am most intrigued about in going on the road, and us getting in the hotel together, eating together, spending time together, communicating together, and all of that so we can keep growing together and staying together."
Tickets, Tickets, Get Your Tickets Here!
Single-game and single-season tickets are now available for the 2023-24 men's basketball season. Single-game tickets may be purchased at the top-right of this preview. For information on single-season tickets, contact the APSU ticket office at 931-221-PEAY (7329) or email Justyn Carlson at jcarlson@ssellc.com.
Follow The Govs On Social
For news and updates throughout the Governors inaugural season in F&M Bank Arena, follow the men's basketball team on X and Instagram (@GovsMBB), on Facebook (Austin Peay Men's Basketball), or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.
