MARTIN, Tenn. — (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) A meeting of particularly high defensive intensity is just the sort of game Matt Figger’s Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team likes to play, and play it the Govs did in a 59-57 battle against UT Martin at the Elam Center, Thursday.

With the victory, Austin Peay moves to 13-10 (8-3 OVC) on the season, while UT Martin falls to 8-16 (3-8).

The Govs opened on a bit of a cold spell—aside from senior Averyl Ugba, who hit his first three shots from the floor, no Austin Peay player made a field goal until a Terry Taylor jumper, over six minutes into the game.

Taylor’s jumper sparked a 12-4 Austin Peay run, and while the offensive production in the first half may not have been at the frenetic 90-point pace Governor fans became accustomed to over the previous two games, the defense which has become the calling-card of the Matt Figger era was certainly on display. Although the half ended with a 7-0 Skyhawk run, the Govs forced 10 turnovers and allowed just 29.6 percent (8-of-27) shooting to take a 32-22 lead into halftime. Offensively, Ugba was the catalyst, scoring 17 first-half points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Neither squad was able to find the range often in the second half; combined, Austin Peay and UT Martin shot a combined 29.8 percent (7-of-26 for the Govs, 10-of-31 for the Skyhawks). Although UT Martin’s offensive output was scarcely better than Austin Peay’s, the Skyhawks chipped away to get within striking distance late in the contest.

But the one man who could be counted on was wearing Austin Peay black and the number 24 on this night. Late in the contest, twice Ugba was called upon and twice he came up clutch. First, a layup on a nice find by senior Tre’ Ivory put the Govs back up three with 28 seconds left after a pair of Darius Thompson free-throws had cut the Austin Peay lead to a single point.

Then, after Fatodd Lewis’ jumper with seven seconds left again cut the deficit to one, Ugba went long on the ensuing inbounds play and was fouled by Mike Fofana. He calmly sank both free-throws to maintain the Austin Peay lead, with freshman Dayton Gumm’s 1-of-2 trip to the line with 2.4 to go ultimately sealing the deal for the Govs.

“We didn’t play pretty, that’s for sure. Defensively, we did a good enough job early in the game to build a good lead, built a decent offense, got good shots. In the second half, we just stopped being aggressive and when you’re not making shots, things start getting a little tighter. We held on; we found a way to make plays at the end when we had to,” said APSU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Matt Figger.