CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It’s now February, which means we’re getting closer and closer to conference tournament time for both of Austin Peay’s basketball teams.
This will be the last month of the regular season with conference tournaments tipping off at the beginning of March. With that in mind, teams need to take advantage of the remaining games and enter March in a favorable position.
The men’s team enters this week with a pivotal game on tap for Wednesday night. The Govs are welcoming the Lipscomb Bisons to town, just a couple of weeks after playing the team on their home court. The Govs are in first place in the ASUN, but the Bisons are just one game behind.
On Saturday, the men’s team welcomes in heated rival North Alabama. The Lions have struggled this year but always seem to give the Govs a tough game.
Meanwhile, the women’s team is back on the road for a couple of important battles. On Wednesday, the team heads down to Florence, Alabama to take on the North Alabama Lions. Then, on Saturday, the team goes up to Richmond, Kentucky to take on the first-place Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
Now, let’s preview these four huge matchups for the Govs.
APSU Men’s Basketball
Wednesday, Feb. 4: APSU vs. Lipscomb
These teams battled back in mid-January in Nashville, and it was a dog fight. The score was tied eight times, and the lead changed a whopping 26 times. Ultimately, the Bisons escaped with an 82-78 victory.
In that first matchup, the Govs lost the turnover battle, which has not been a common occurrence this season. The Bisons turned 14 Govs’ turnovers into 16 points, which ended up being a major difference in the game. The Bisons also made 100% of their free throws while the Govs made 75% of their own.
Rashaud Marshall led the Govs in scoring in the first meeting, ending with 23 points scored and six rebounds. Collin Parker could play a huge role in this one, as the big man is coming off a double-double against West Georgia and has scored at least 25 points in two consecutive contests.
This game could end up having major postseason implications. With a win, the Govs would improve to 10-1 in conference play and hold a two-game lead over the Bisons. A win would also maintain the Govs’ perfect home record for the season.
Saturday, Feb. 7: APSU vs. North Alabama
After what will assuredly be a tough test against the Bisons, the Govs welcome in one of their biggest rivals on Saturday in the North Alabama Lions.
The Lions are currently buried at the bottom of the ASUN standings, but don’t let that fool you. This is a team that always gets motivated to play against the Govs, and they finally got another conference win last weekend against Stetson.
This will be the first and only meeting between the Govs and Lions in the regular season. Since the Govs are battling to remain at the top of the conference, the Lions would love nothing more than to play spoiler.
If the Govs get through Lipscomb and North Alabama, they’ll end this week with a 17-6 overall record and an 11-1 record in conference play.
APSU Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, Feb. 4: APSU at North Alabama
The women’s team is looking to snap a two-game losing streak going into a new week of action. The good news is, the team is on the road again, where they have an elite 10-0 record.
On Wednesday, the team makes the short trip down to take on North Alabama. The Lions enter this matchup with five conference wins, the same number as the Govs, so this game could have postseason implications as well.
Florence has been a tough place for opponents to play this year, as the Lions have a 7-3 record at home. However, the Govs have been undaunted by each previous road challenge, and you know they’ll be amped up to take on a rival.
Saturday, Feb. 7: APSU at Eastern Kentucky
The game on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky can be described as an immovable object against an unstoppable force. The Govs have not lost a game on the road, while the Colonels have not lost a conference game. Something has to give on Saturday.
The Colonels have not only won their games, but they’ve also dominated in most of them. Of the team’s 10 conference wins, six of those have been decided by 15 or more points. The Colonels are led by Liz Freihofer, who’s averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
If the Govs can sweep another road trip, they’ll come back home with a 7-5 conference record and be in good shape as the regular season winds down.
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