CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay men’s basketball team got the 2026-27 regular season kicked off on Monday night against the Lane College Dragons at F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville.
The Govs tuned up with two exhibition wins in October, but this was the first game that counts. This team is loaded with freshmen and only features two returning players, so it’s reasonable to expect some growing pains.
Well, there weren’t any growing pains on Monday night. The Govs took control early and never let up against the Dragons. Six Govs ended up scoring in double digits, and the Govs cruised to a season-opening victory.
Final score: Austin Peay 109, Lane College 65
As mentioned above, the Govs got off to a hot start and never looked back. The Govs raced to an 11-0 lead to start the game, and the Dragons didn’t score their first points until five minutes had passed in the first half.
The Govs’ defense was smothering throughout the half, and the Dragons only managed nine points in the first 10 minutes of the game. On offense, the Govs distributed the ball well, and it seemed like everything was going in the basket. At halftime, the Govs held a commanding 62-25 lead.
The second half was more of the same. The Govs rotated in 11 of the 12 players on their roster, and 10 of the 11 scored. The Dragons did get a little more offense going in the second half, as Randy Emerson provided a boost and ended with a team-high 18 points.
That didn’t even dent the Govs’ lead, though. Star point guard Zyree Collins led the way with 18 points himself, to go with a career-high eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Big man Rashaud Marshall picked up 16 points and grabbed five boards.
Meanwhile, Collins, Marshall, Bradley Floyd, Cam Ryans, Talon Todd and Shamarrie Hugie all scored at least 10 points for the Govs.
Young Govs show promising signs
This Austin Peay team is one of the youngest teams in Division-I. This is the most freshmen the program has ever brought in at one time, so there’s bound to be a learning curve eventually.
But if the first game is any indication, the future is bright in Stacheville. Three of those true freshmen, Floyd, Ryans and Todd, scored in double figures tonight in what was their first collegiate game.
Floyd scored 11 points and had three assists and two steals. Ryans scored 15 points while shooting 7-for-10 from the field, and Todd scored 13 while going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Upcoming men’s basketball schedule
- Nov. 6 – at Kennesaw State.
- Nov. 10 – vs. Livingstone.
- Nov. 14 – at Wichita State.
- Nov. 17 – vs. Life University.
- Nov. 21– vs. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
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