JACKSONVILLE, FL (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay men’s basketball team took down the Stetson Hatters Friday night in a quarterfinal matchup at the ASUN Tournament.
The Govs entered the game as the No. 2 seed while the Hatters were the No. 10 seed. Thanks to being a top-four seed, Austin Peay had a first-round bye. Stetson, however, had to battle Eastern Kentucky and ultimately won handily, 92-76.
This game didn’t start the way the Govs wanted. At one point in the first half, the Govs were down by 14 points. However, the team stepped up in a big way in the second half and ended up winning 69-60.
Despite facing a big deficit, head coach Corey Gipson made it known he never lost faith. “I never get nervous with this group,” said Gipson in the postgame press conference.
What stood out: Brookshire, Stacheville fans
One of the main reasons the Govs were able to cut into the Hatters’ lead in the first half was the play of Anton Brookshire. The senior guard hit three three-pointers in the first half and one in the second half, ending with 15 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
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The big men for Austin Peay also made their presence felt. Both Collin Parker and Rashaud Marshall collected double-doubles, with Parker having 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Marshall having a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds.
The Govs didn’t have a great night as a team from deep, but they made up for it in the paint. Austin Peay outscored Stetson 38-30 in the paint and also had eight more rebounds as a team.
Additionally, the Govs had a large cheering section of fans who made the trip from Stacheville. Expect the Austin Peay faithful to fill the arena for the rest of the weekend.
What’s next for Govs in ASUN Tournament
With the win, the Govs move on to the semifinal round Saturday and will play at 6:30 p.m. Austin Peay will play the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 Queens and No. 6 West Georgia.
For Stetson, it’s the end of the road. The Hatters end the 2025-26 season with a 12-21 record and a 7-11 conference record. In the 2023-24 season, the Hatters knocked off the Govs in the ASUN Championship Game to earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. However, the Hatters have now had losing records in the two seasons since.
Either opponent the Govs play tomorrow will be a team they’ve already beaten once. The Govs beat Queens 95-87 back on Feb. 11 and beat West Georgia 81-78 on Jan. 31.
If the Govs can win Saturday, they’ll clinch a spot in the final against either Central Arkansas or Florida Gulf Coast. The Govs won both regular-season matchups against Florida Gulf Coast and lost their only contest against Central Arkansas.
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