CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Off to its best start to a season since 2000 and looking to pick up its sixth all-time win against the Southeastern Conference, Austin Peay State University's basketball team faces No. 9 Tennessee in a 2 p.m. (CT), Sunday contest at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Austin Peay's (3-0) unbeaten record through the opening three games is tied for the best start to a season in the program's 94-year history, trailing only a 4-0 start to the 2000-01 campaign. The Governors are coming off a 67-61 victory against Chattanooga at F&M Bank Arena, in which LJ Thomas paced the team in scoring for the second-straight game with 18 points.

The reigning ASUN Newcomer of the Week, Thomas has scored in double figures in each of his first three games as a member of the Red & White. The Plant City, Florida native leads the Govs with 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game – both ranking top six in the Atlantic Sun Conference. 

Austin Peay has one of the most efficient offenses in the NCAA through the opening two weeks of the season, with their 9.3 turnovers per game ranking 40th nationally and second in the ASUN.

The Govs also have been led by their defense, whose 67.3 points per game allowed per night and 28.4 defensive three-point percentage rank second in the ASUN. 

APSU gained national attention following last Friday's win at Butler, receiving votes in the Associated Press College Men's Basketball Poll for the first time since being ranked No. 20, Jan. 1974. APSU also is receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll for the first time since Jan. 2020. 

Sunday's in-state matchup against Tennessee is the 11th in program history and just two games removed from APSU's 74-70 win in Knoxville (12/10/11). Josh Terry led all scorers with 20 points in the 2011 win, as the Govs made 72.7% of their second-half shots to claim the victory on Rocky Top. 

After making the Elite Eight for the second time in program history last season, Tennessee (3-0) is coming off its third-straight win in a 92-57 victory against Montana, Wednesday. Igor Miličić paced the Volunteers with 18 points and 10 rebounds, as they outscored the Grizzlies 52-26 in the second half.

Sunday's game will be streamed on SECN+ and ESPN+ with Zack Nelson and Steve Hamer on the call. Fans also can tune into the Governors Sports Network on ESPN Clarksville (104.1/540 AM) or via the TuneIn app to hear Brian Rives and Jeff Matthews call all the action.

Up Next

Following their matchup against nationally-ranked Tennessee, Austin Peay heads to the Bluegrass State for a 6 p.m., Wednesday matchup with longtime Ohio Valley Conference foe Morehead State in Morehead, Kentucky. The game will be live-streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast live on ESPN Clarksville.

From the Jump

• Austin Peay and the Volunteers meet on the hardwood for the first time since the 2022-23 season, when Tennessee defeated the Governors 86-44 (12/21/22).
• Austin Peay's most recent of five all-time wins against the SEC came in a 74-70 victory against Tennessee (12/10/11).
• Austin Peay is 5-65 all-time against current members of the SEC, with its two wins against Vanderbilt being its most against a league affiliate.
• The Governors are on their best start to a season since beginning the 2000-01 campaign 4-0, which is the longest unbeaten mark to start a season in program history. 
• Austin Peay is coming off a 67-61 victory against Chattanooga last time out, in which LJ Thomas led the Govs in scoring for the second-straight game with 18 points. 
• Thomas leads Austin Peay in points (59), rebounds (20), assists (11), made and attempted field goals (24-55), and steals (5). 
• The Governors are 0-1 all-time against ranked opponents under head coach Corey Gipson after falling to No. 18 Memphis last season (12/30/23).
• The Govs have out-shot opponents in each game this season and are 17-2 in such games under Gipson. 
• APSU also has led at the half in all three games and is 14-4 over the last two seasons when leading through 20 minutes.  
• A pair of Preseason All-ASUN selections, Sai Witt and Isaac Haney are second and third on the team in scoring with 12.0 and 11.7 points per game, respectively.
• Thomas, Witt, Haney, and Quan Lax have started all three games for Austin Peay this season, while Hansel Enmanuel made the starting lineup in each of APSU's last two contests.
• Enmanuel leads APSU with an 85.7 field-goal percentage on seven attempts. He also paces the Govs with seven offensive rebounds.

Scouting the Volunteers

• The reigning SEC Regular-Season Champions, Tennessee is off to a 3-0 start for the second-straight season and the sixth time under head coach Rick Barnes.
• The Volunteers are 205-101 in 10 seasons under Barnes. 
• Tennessee is led in scoring by North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier, who is averaging 16.7 points per game on a team-best 10 made three-pointers.
• Lanier is 35th in the NCAA and third in the SEC with a 58.5 three-point percentage. 
• Lanier averaged 26.0 points per game in a pair of losses to Austin Peay last season. 
• Lanier is one of four transfer additions for the Volunteers this season. 
• A First Team Preseason All-SEC selection, Zakai Zeigler is second on the team with 14.3 points per game, and leads UT with 23 assists and 10 free throws. 
• Zeigler's 23 assists and 7.7 assists per game lead the SEC.
• Tennessee leads the SEC and ranks eighth in the NCAA with a 56.0 field-goal percentage this season.
• The Volunteers lead the SEC and rank 22nd in the NCAA with a 42.9 three-point percentage. 

Follow the Govs on Social

For news and updates on all things Governors' basketball, follow the men's basketball team on X and Instagram (@GovsMBB) and Facebook (Austin Peay Men's Basketball) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.