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Austin Peay State University Athletics

LJ Thomas vs Vanderbilt
Robert Smith
55
Austin Peay APSU 4-8,0-0 ASUN
85
Winner Vanderbilt VU 11-1,0-0 SEC
Austin Peay APSU
4-8,0-0 ASUN
55
Final
85
Vanderbilt VU
11-1,0-0 SEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Austin Peay APSU 20 35 55
Vanderbilt VU 47 38 85

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Alex Allard, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

Offense Stymied in Loss at Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's basketball team was held to a season-low 31.7% from the field in an 85-55 loss at Vanderbilt, Saturday, in Memorial Gymnasium.

LJ Thomas scored a game-high 20 points in his return after three games, while Tate McCubbin had his second-straight double-figure scoring performance with 10 points and six rebounds in the decision.

A Vanderbilt turnover on its first offensive possession resulted in an Isaac Haney layup for the day's first points. The Commodores responded with nine-straight points after making four-straight attempts from the field. 

The Commodores made 10-straight attempts from the field to take a 36-12 lead with 7:37 remaining in the opening half, before a Daniel Loos jumper in the paint sparked an 8-4 APSU run over the next four minutes to cut its deficit to 40-20 with 2:36 to play in the opening half. However, Vanderbilt scored the final seven points of the period to lead 47-20 heading into the locker room.

The Govs and Commodores split the first eight points of the second half, before Vanderbilt extended its lead to 61-27 prior to the under-12 media timeout.

After Vanderbilt took a game-high 41-point lead with 7:50 to play, the Governors scored 11 of the game's next 12 points over the next two and a half minutes, with Thomas scoring half of APSU's points in that span.

Back-to-back jumpers by Tekao Carpenter and Darius Dawson were the final points of the game, as the Commodores won, 85-55.

Up Next

After a break for Christmas, the Governors next return to the court for a 4 p.m., Dec. 29 game against Brescia at F&M Bank Arena in the nonconference finale. Following the game against the Bearcats, APSU begins ASUN Conference play in the Sunshine State against North Florida at 1 p.m., Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Difference 

The first half. The Governors were outscored just 38-35 in the second half, but were unable to erase a 27-point halftime deficit. 

Box Score Bullets

  • Austin Peay fell to 2-18 all-time against Vanderbilt and 1-14 against the Commodores in Nashville.
  • LJ Thomas led Austin Peay with 20 points, his seventh time leading the Govs in scoring this season.
  • LJ Thomas' 20 points marked his fifth 20-point game of the season.
  • Austin Peay's starting five of Tate McCubbin, Sai Witt, Isaac Haney, LJ Thomas, and Terrell Gaines was its 10th different starting lineup of the season.
  • Terrell Gaines earned his first-career start against the Commodores. He is the 11th Gov to start at least one game this season.
  • With Tate McCubbin's three-pointer with 8:30 to play in the first half, Austin Peay extended its record for consecutive games with a three-pointer to 713 games, a streak that began Feb. 23, 2002 against Southeast Missouri in the season finale.

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. 

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