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Austin Peay State University Athletics

Ja'Monta Black Drive baseline
Robert Smith

Men's Basketball Alex Allard, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

Govs Face Familiar Foe in Tennessee State in Nashville

Men's Basketball Alex Allard, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

Govs Face Familiar Foe in Tennessee State in Nashville

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After a brief stop back in Clarksville, Austin Peay State University's basketball team is back on the road to renew a 61-year-old rivalry against former conference foe Tennessee State in a 6 p.m., Saturday game at the Gentry Center in Nashville.

Austin Peay (3-5) is coming off a 61-50 Wednesday loss to Morehead State in Clarksville. DeMarcus Sharp led the Govs in scoring fifth-straight game and sixth time overall this season with his third-straight 20-point performance against Morehead State.  

Sharp currently leads APSU in points (153), rebounds (60), assists (41), steals (23), field goals made and attempted (63-142), and free throws made and attempted (27-37). Sharp also leads the ASUN in double-doubles (three), minutes per game (37:33), defensive rebounds per game (6.75) and steals (23). The Columbia, Missouri native leads the nation in field goal attempts, while ranking second nationally in made attempts and his steals' mark ranks fourth in Division I.

Saturday's game is the 85th all-time meeting between the Govs and Tennessee State (5-3), with APSU leading the series, 52-32; however, the Tigers have won 23 of the 36 meetings in the Gentry Center.

Tennessee State enters the weekend after dropping an 85-83 decision to Alabama A&M, Wednesday, in Huntsville, Alabama. 

A fast-paced offense, the Tigers are second in the Ohio Valley Conference and 35th nationally with 15.5 fastbreak points per game and also lead the ASUN in turnovers forced per game with 16.4. 

Broadcast Information

Radio: ESPN Clarksville 104.1 – Brian Rives (PxP), Jeff Matthews (Color) 
All Austin Peay men's basketball games are aired on ESPN Clarksville, with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior to tipoff.
TV: ESPN+ -- Barry Gresham (PxP), Ethan Schmidt (Color)
All Austin Peay basketball home games, all ASUN contests, and select road games are broadcast on ESPN+. Broadcasts all begin at the top of the hour and feature a two-minute preview leading up to the game.

From The Jump

  • Austin Peay and Tennessee square off for the 85th time in program history – the fourth-most against a single opponent in program history.
  • Austin Peay leads the all-time series, 52-32.
  • Austin Peay has won two-straight and four of the last five meetings against the Tigers. 
  • Tennessee State won the last meeting between the two teams in Nashville, coming away with a 65-61 win during OVC play, Jan. 22, 2022. The win snapped a two-game APSU winning streak in the series.
  • DeMarcus Sharp leads Division I with 142 field goals attempts and is second nationally with 63 made field goals.
  • Sharp also ranks 14th nationally with 153 total points and fourth with 23 steals.
  • The Governors are undefeated this season when recording a higher field-goal percentage, coming in at 3-0.
  • The Govs also are undefeated this season when scoring more second chance and fast-break points.

Scouting the Tigers

Their Head Coach: Penny Collins is in his sixth year of the Tennessee State men's basketball program where he has accumulated a record of 68-90. The Tigers went 18-14 under Collins last season, his second winning season at the helm of the program.

2023-24 Record: 5-3 (0-0 OVC)

Their Season So Far: The Tigers opened their 2023-24 season with three-straight wins before dropping a 92-67 decision to Oregon in the first game of the Emarald Coast Classic in Eugene Oregon. After defeating Midway, Nov. 20, TSU continued its MTE stay with a loss against Mercer before defeating Southeastern Louisiana, 91-77, Nov. 25. The Tigers then fell in overtime to Alabama A&M, 85-83, in Huntsville. 

2022-23 Record: 18-14 (10-8 OVC)

2022-23 Season Result: Tennessee State was the No. 4 seed in the 2023 OVC Men's Basketball Tournament and fell to No. 5 Southeast Missouri, 91-83, in the tournament's quarterfinals.

Returning/Lost/Newcomers: 6/8/10

Notable Returner: After making five starts across 10 appearances for the Tigers last season, Christian Brown is second on the team with 14.3 points per game in six appearances and scored a season-high 24 points at Portland, Nov. 15 

Notable Newcomer: A Belmont transfer, E.J. Bellinger is one of three Tigers (Marcus Fitzgerald, Kinyon Hodges) to have started all eight games this season. He heads TSU with 14.5 points per game and has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games. He also leads TSU with a 57.3 field-goal percentage.

Series History: 52-32 APSU | 23-13 TSU in Nashville | Streak: APSU two-straight wins

Last Meeting: Austin Peay defeated Tennessee State 76-61, Dec. 3, 2022 in Clarksville after a game-high 24 points by Sean Durugordon.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Sean Durugordon

#0 Sean Durugordon

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
DeMarcus Sharp

#0 DeMarcus Sharp

G
6' 3"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Sean Durugordon

#0 Sean Durugordon

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
DeMarcus Sharp

#0 DeMarcus Sharp

6' 3"
Graduate Student
G