CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay men’s basketball team welcomed the Bellarmine Knights to town on Saturday for another conference tilt. The Govs entered the contest having won their last seven games and sitting in first place with a 12-1 conference record.
The Knights entered hot as well, though. The team had won four of its last five games entering Saturday and was moving up in the conference standings.
Saturday was the first meeting of the season between the Govs and Knights. Last year, the teams split the season series, with both teams winning at home. The Govs needed a win on Saturday to maintain their lead in the conference, while the Knights were seeking to play spoiler with a huge upset.
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Collin Parker of Austin Peay has been among the hottest players in college basketball recently. The star transfer had scored 20-plus points in each of the five games leading up to Saturday, and it was clear he was going to play a large role again on Saturday.
The last time the Govs played, they picked up a huge road win over Queens. Was there a hangover from the emotional win, or did the Govs come out hot again?
Final score: Austin Peay 90, Bellarmine 70
There was no slow start from the Govs on Saturday. Star freshman point guard Zyree Collins opened the scoring with a three-point play. Parker started hot as well, scoring five points in the first four minutes of the game.
It was clear from the start that the Knights’ game plan was to play physically against the Govs. The Knights forced a couple of turnovers but had no answer for the Govs’ hot shooting.
As a team, the Govs shot 65.5% from the field and 58.3% from three in the first half. Tate McCubbin, who has been in a bit of a scoring slump, hit two three-pointers and ended the half with eight points. Parker, who was looking to score 20-plus for the sixth-straight game, had 18 in the first half alone.
Collins had a great half as well, finishing with eight points and nine assists. As a result, the Govs entered the half with a commanding 53-33 lead.
The Govs cooled down slightly on offense in the second half, but the defense stepped it up another notch. Another three-pointer by McCubbin about seven minutes into the half gave the Govs a game-high 24-point lead.
After that point, the Knights began to battle back. The Knights were able to cut it to a 15-point game a couple of times, but it never got closer than that. The Govs were incredibly efficient from the free throw line, hitting 24-28 on the night, and the game could’ve ended up much closer if not for those key makes.
The Govs went on to win the game 90-70, improving to 13-1 in conference play and extending their win streak to eight games.
Parker successfully reached the 20-point mark again, ending with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Parker is the first Gov since 2000 to score 20-plus points in six consecutive contests.
Collins, meanwhile, secured his first double-double of the season, ending with 16 points and 14 assists. That’s a new season-high in assists for Collins and the most assists in a game by a freshman in Austin Peay history, per Austin Peay athletics.
After improving to 12-0 at home, the Govs will head on the road for two games in Jacksonville next week.
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