CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Seeking its first 3-0 start in Ohio Valley Conference play since 2010-11, Austin Peay State University men’s basketball hosts UT Martin, 6 p.m., Thursday, in the Dunn Center.
The Govs carry a 71-31 record all-time against the Skyhawks, but look to return to their winning ways against a longtime OVC foe; UT Martin has won two in a row and six of the last seven meetings between the two, with Austin Peay’s lone victory coming in the 2016 OVC Tournament Championship game.
Thursday’s game, which will be carried on CBS Sports Network, is sponsored by Cornerstone Financial Credit Union. Foam fingers will be given to the first 600 fans in attendance.
Scouting the Skyhawks
Although Fatodd Lewis and Matthew Butler have grabbed the headlines as UT Martin’s one-two punch for most of the 2017-18 regular season, junior Jailen Gill emerged as the leading scorer for the Skyhawks in both games to kick off the OVC schedule, averaging 17.0 ppg and hitting 14-of-16 from the floor.
Austin Peay’s advantage will come on the glass, particularly offensively; the Govs lead the OVC with 13.8 offensive rebounds per game, while the Skyhawks are corralling just 68.6 percent of defensive rebounds available, ninth in the OVC. If the game comes down to free throws, it could be to UT Martin’s advantage; the
Skyhawks lead the league in free-throw shooting (76.6 percent), while the Govs, despite a recent uptick (67.0 percent over the last five games) at the line, remain mired at 62.4 percent at the charity stripe this season.