CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay State University’s final basketball game in the Dunn Center ended with a win, but it was sullied by a fight on the court that spilled into the crowd and hallways.
Facing ASUN opponent North Florida, APSU was up 72-71 with 13 seconds remaining. North Florida had the ball and a chance to take the lead, but the Governors’ defense stole the ball and quickly returned to the Govs’ side of the court. APSU’s Cameron Copeland was taking the final shot when a player from North Florida tackled Copeland from behind, according to ESPN video of the play.
Copeland ran back onto the court and pushed the North Florida player. That started a brawl on the court that spilled over into the crowd, and then into the hallways leading to the locker rooms, according to witnesses and video from the game.
Twenty minutes later, the referees called a technical foul on North Florida and brought an APSU player out from the locker room to shoot one free throw. The Govs won 73-71.
Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison issued the following statement Saturday night:
“I am disappointed with the behavior at the conclusion of today’s game with North Florida. Our student-athletes are held to a higher standard, and tonight’s behavior does not represent the ‘Total Gov Concept.’ Austin Peay and the ASUN Conference take pride in sportsmanship. That didn’t happen today. We will work with the ASUN Conference to determine the appropriate path forward and respond accordingly.”
This was the Govs basketball program’s final game in the Dunn Center before they move to the newly built F&M Bank Arena this year.