CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Basketball is officially back.

Austin Peay State University's basketball team tips off its 2023-24 campaign with a 7:15 p.m., Monday game against Life on Gary Mathews Court at F&M Bank Arena. 

Fresh off an 82-43 exhibition victory against Tennessee Tech, Thursday, the Governors now prepare for the first official game of the Corey Gipson Era and at its new facility, F&M Bank Arena.

Austin Peay had four players score in double figures during its charity exhibition against the Golden Eagles, and were paced by Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Conference DeMarcus Sharp's 18 points. One of six players that come to Clarksville from Northwestern State, where Gipson served the head coach last season, Sharp accounted for a game-high 37 points, as five of his seven assists were off three-pointers.

Sharp also is one of 12 newcomers that comprise APSU's 2023-24 roster, he is joined by fellow Demon-turned-Governor, Ja'Monta Black, who is the top-returning three-point scorer across all levels of college basketball with 122 makes last season. Black made a trio of threes in a 13-point performance against Tennessee Tech last week.

The Govs' lone returning player from last year's team is redshirt junior Jalen Ware who appeared in 28 games and made 12 starts last season while averaging 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1 and 35.5 percent from the field and three-point range, respectively. 

Gipson will not be the only Austin Peay graduate patrolling the sideline in Monday's season opener, as Kevin Easley, a 2002 APSU grad and four-year letterwinner for the Govs, is in his sixth season as the Running Eagles head coach. 

Life is 71-74 under Easley and is coming off a 20-10 2022-23 campaign which saw it fall in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament to the nation's No. 1 seed, Florida College.

Up Next

The Governors will face George Mason for their first road game of the season in a 6 p.m. (CT), Friday game at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. Austin Peay will look for its first-ever win against the Patriots, in the third all-time meeting between the two sides and first since the National Invitation Tournament, March 19, 2004.

Broadcast Information

Radio: ESPN Clarksville 104.1 FM – Brian Rives (PxP) / Jeff Matthews (Color)
All Austin Peay women's basketball games are aired on WAPX 91.9 FM. Pregame begins 15 minutes before tip and can be heard online at LetsGoPeay.com.

TV: ESPN+ -- Barry Gresham (PxP) / Ethan Schmidt (Color)
All home and Atlantic Sun Conference games are live-streamed on ESPN+.

From The Jump

• Austin Peay basketball tips off its 93rd season, and first under Corey Gipson and in F&M Bank Arena.
• Life is the first of seven first-time opponents the Governors will face this season, all coming in nonconference play.
• The Governors' 2023-24 roster features a Division I-best 12 newcomers, 11 of which are transfers. 
• The reigning Southland Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year, a First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, DeMarcus Sharp averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game last season at Northwestern State.
• Ja'Monta Black also is one of six Northwestern State transfers that grace the Govs' roster. The Columbia, Missouri native is the top-returning three-point scorer across all levels of college basketball after making 122 threes last year and 3.81 per game – both ranked fourth in Division I last season.
• The grandson of Austin Peay Hall of Fame head coach Dave Loos, Daniel Loos prepares for his first season back in his hometown after transferring from Christian Brothers after three seasons in Memphis. Loos was a former standout at Clarksville Academy – where he scored 2,135-career points and hauled in 746 rebounds.
• Jalen Ware is the Govs' lone returning player from last year's. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Govs a season ago and scored seven points and hauled in as many rebounds in the exhibition win against Tennessee Tech.
• APSU's single freshman on the roster, Dez White is set to begin his collegiate career after coming out of Helias High School and The Skills Factory Prep where he was ranked a three-star recruit by On3.com and 247Sports.com. He holds HCHS' single-game and single-season scoring record with 51 and 699 points, respectively. White made a team-best four three-pointers against Tennessee Tech last week.

Scouting the Running Eagles

2023-24 Record: 3-0 (SSAC)

2022-23 Record: 20-10 (12-8 SSAC)

2022-23 Season Result:  After dropping an 83-81 decision in the SSAC Tournament Quarterfinal, Life had its 2022-23 season come to an end following a 79-77 defeat to No. 1 Florida College in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament.

Notable Returner: Nathan Presnell leads Life with 18.0 points per game through a trio of starts this season. He averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Running Eagles last season in 27 appearances.

Series History: First regular-season meeting 

Last Meeting: In the only previous meeting between Austin Peay and Life the Governors earned a 92-63 win against the Running Eagles in a Nov. 4, 2021 exhibition.

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 2023-24 season, follow the men's basketball team on X and Instagram (@GovsMBB), on Facebook (Austin Peay Men's Basketball), or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.