FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — (CLARKSVILLENOW) Despite a game-high 23 points from senior John Murry, Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team couldn’t keep pace with a high-octane Arkansas Razorback squad at Bud Walton Arena, Saturday.
The Govs fell 99-62 thanks in no small part to the Razorbacks desire to run; head coach Mike Anderson’s “Fastest 40 minutes in basketball” philosophy was on display thanks to a 28-7 advantage in transition points. The Razorbacks were able to push the pace thanks to a sizable (47-31) advantage on the boards.
Austin Peay held tough early, taking and making a number of looks in space through the game’s first six minutes. After Murry converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the 14:04 mark, the Governors held a 15-14 lead.
Arkansas then went on a 23-5 to push the lead to 17, but the Govs displayed resiliency late in the first half. Austin Peay closed on an 11-4 run over the final 4:07, with Murry accounting for nine of those points, including a three with 29 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 10 going into the break.
The Razorbacks imposed their will early in the second half, opening the final frame on a 41-10 run that included 13 transition points. Murry and senior Assane Diop (seven points each) led the Governor attack in the second half. Adrio Bailey had 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half for Arkansas.