CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Governors are heading to the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship game.

Led by a game and career-high 34 points by graduate student Dezi Jones, Austin Peay State University’s basketball team won a back-and-forth battle with North Alabama, 77-71, to clinch the Governors’ first ASUN Championship game during the program’s first postseason as a member of the conference, Thursday, at F&M Bank Arena.

Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

The trip to the title game marks Austin Peay’s 17th in program history and first since it won the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference as a No. 8 seed.

Austin Peay Head Coach Corey Gipson said, “We really wanted to do this for the 931. These guys have made a bold statement in wanting to do this for something that is bigger than themselves.”

Gipson spoke of what Clarksville has recently gone through with the Dec. 9 tornado, and how the hometown team can help lift people’s spirits.

“The energy that is being brought here right now hopefully can continue to revive the city before it is rebuilt from a physical standpoint. From an energy standpoint, as to how these guys are leaving empty, just let everyone know that we are paying homage to the city of Clarksville and the 931,” Gipson said.

Game highlights

There were 24 lead changes and 14 ties in Thursday’s Saturday night semifinal matchup between the Govs (19-14) and Lions (15-17) – both season-high marks for APSU – with 15 of the lead changes coming in the first half.

Jones led the game with 17 points in the first half on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, and was followed in scoring by Sai Witt’s eight points on a 3-of-3 clip.

Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)
Austin Peay State University basketball beats North Alabama in ASUN Championship Semifinals at F&M Bank Arena on March 8, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Trailing by one with 11:50 to play, Jones went to the line following the under-12 media timeout and sank both of his free throws to spark the 24th – and, at last, final – lead change of the afternoon. The Hannibal, Missouri native then scored the game’s next four points as well to extend APSU’s lead to five.

The Lions would trim APSU’s lead to as few as three points in the final two minutes, but perfect trips to the stripe by Isaac Haney and Witt extended APSU’s lead in the final 20 seconds, as it clinched its inaugural trip to the ASUN Championship game.

Austin Peay made 9-of-10 free throws in the final six minutes to secure the win. Dezi Jones also logged the second-highest scoring performance by a Governor this season – trailing only DeMarcus Sharp’s 35 points against North Florida in the ASUN Quarterfinals – in his 34-point night.

What’s next

Up next is the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Championship.

Austin Peay travels to DeLand Florida where it will play Stetson for the conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Central on Sunday.