RICHMOND, Ky – Fresh off its Atlantic Sun Conference-opening victory against Bellarmine, Austin Peay State University's basketball team continues its stay in the Bluegrass State with a 6 p.m. (CT) game against Eastern Kentucky at Baptist Health Arena in Richmond, Kentucky.

Austin Peay (8-8, 1-0 ASUN) was led by a game-high 21 points by graduate student Dezi Jones, who logged his third 20-point outing as a Governor and second in as many games. The Govs also logged their most points and rebounds (41) in a Division I game this season during the 84-68 victory against the Knights. 

The Governors are led in scoring (17.1 points per game), rebounds (7.3), assists (80), and steals (40) by DeMarcus Sharp who ranks in the top 50 nationally in eight statistical categories.

Saturday's clash with Eastern Kentucky (5-9, 1-0 ASUN) is the 121st meeting between the two former Ohio Valley Conference members. Austin Peay leads the all-time series which dates back to 1964, 64-56, bu the Eagles have won two-straight and three of the last four meetings against the Govs.

Eastern Kentucky is coming off a 90-82 home victory against Lipscomb, Thursday, and is led by the nation's top shot blocker and the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, Isaiah Cozart who leads Division I with 60 blocks and 4.62 per game.

Up Next

Austin Peay returns to the Volunteer State and closes a four-game road trip with a 4 p.m., Jan. 13 game against Lipscomb at Allen Arena in Nashville.

The Fastbreak

• Austin Peay enters the second game of ASUN Conference play against Eastern Kentucky, who the Govs have met 120 times in program history and own a 64-56 lead in the all-time series that dates back to Jan. 1964.
• The Governors are coming off an 84-68 victory at Bellarmine, Thursday, the win ended a three-game losing streak in conference openers and was the program's first victory in an ASUN opener.
• Dezi Jones led Austin Peay with 21 points against the Knights, his second-straight and third overall 20-point performance this season.
• As a team, Austin Peay leads the ASUN in three statistical categories: scoring defense (65.6), three-point percentage defense (.279), and turnovers per game (9.6). The three-point percentage defense and turnovers per game rank 19th nationally, while the scoring defense is 63rd in Division I entering the weekend.
• Eastern Kentucky is led by the nation's top shot blocker, Isaiah Cozart, who has tallied 60 blocks and 4.62 per game. Cozart also ranks fourth nationally with 4.4 offense rebounds per game and seventh in field-goal percentage at 65.6 – all of which led the ASUN.
• A.W. Hamilton is in his sixth season at the helm of the Eastern Kentucky men's basketball team and has gone 92-83 as the Colonels head coach.

A Deeper Meaning

What a win would mean: Govs return to a winning record at 9-8 while also improving to 2-0 in ASUN play… First 2-0 start to conference play since the 2019-20 season… Corey Gipson becomes the second head coach in the Governors' Division I Era to begin conference play with back-to-back wins, joining Matt Figger who opened OVC play 4-0 in 2017-18… Austin Peay improves to 65-56 all-time against Eastern Kentucky and ends a two-game losing streak to the Colonels.

What a loss would mean: Govs drop third-straight game to Eastern Kentucky, falling to 64-57 all time against the Colonels and 23-33 in Richmond… Govs fall to 0-2 all-time against the Colonels in ASUN play and 59-52 against them as conference rivals… Austin Peay falls to 2-7 on the road.

Last Time Against Eastern Kentucky

Last Game: Eastern Kentucky finished a Jan. 21, 2023 contest against the Governors on a 12-0 run over the final 5:46 to escape the Winfield Dunn Center with a 74-59 victory

Last Win: Austin Peay alum and current Chicago Bull Terry Taylor became the program's all-time scoring leader during a 94-79 victory against the Colonels at Baptist Health Arena in Richmond, Kentucky.

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.