CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – We’re officially in February, which means Austin Peay’s basketball teams have just one more month of regular season games.
The ASUN Tournament starts on March 3 for the women and March 4 for the men. As a result, the pressure is on to keep stacking wins to end up in a better spot come March.
Entering last week’s slate, both Austin Peay teams were looking good. The women’s team entered the last week of January with a 13-5 overall record and a 5-3 record in conference play. The men’s team, meanwhile, entered at 13-6 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
Each team was setup nicely entering the weekend, as the women’s team had two home games while the men’s team had two road games against teams near the bottom of the conference standings. So how did the teams do? Let’s dive into the recap.
Govs men’s basketball
Wednesday, Jan. 28: APSU at EKU
The men’s basketball team got started on Wednesday with a quick trip up the road to Richmond, Kentucky, to take on the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
When these two long-time rivals played for the first time this season, earlier in January, the Govs escaped with a 74-72 win. The Colonels hit what looked like a game-winning buzzer-beater, but it was waived off, and the Govs got the win.
Ahead of this rematch, the Colonels were desperate for a win. The team had lost two conference games in a row and fallen in the standings. Things didn’t get any easier for the Colonels on Wednesday though, as the Govs controlled the game throughout.
The Govs were efficient in the first half, shooting 53.5% from the field and 46.7% from deep. Guard Matt Enright made both of his threes, chipping in six points, while forward Collin Parker had 14 points in the first half alone.
The Govs took a 42-36 lead into the half, and the Colonels never took the lead in the second half. Despite a ferocious comeback attempt late, the Govs escaped Richmond with a 90-82 victory. Parker led the way with 25 points and six rebounds, while Rashaud Marshall had 18 points and five boards of his own.
This was the first win in Richmond for the Govs since 2017 and moved the team to 8-1 in conference play heading into the weekend.
Saturday, Jan. 31: APSU at UWG
Fresh off a victory in Richmond, the Govs went down to Carrollton, GA, to take on the West Georgia Wolves.
Like the Colonels, the Wolves entered this game looking to snap a cold streak. The Wolves began ASUN play with a 3-0 record but were just 1-5 since that point entering Saturday.
Judging by the Govs’ hot start, they clearly didn’t want to be the team to hand the Wolves another conference win. The Govs led by as many as 13 in the first half and entered the break with a 44-35 lead.
Unfortunately, star freshman guard Zyree Collins went down hard early in the second half and was slow to get up. Collins struggled to put any weight on his ankle and had to be helped to the locker room. Collins never returned to the game, but did come back to the bench near the end of the game.
Without Collins, the Govs still did enough to hold on against the Wolves. Collin Parker had a career day, setting a new season high in points, rebounds, and free throws. The transfer big man ended with 30 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and went 16-18 from the free throw line.
Parker’s massive showing led the Govs to an 81-78 road win. The win gave the Govs another perfect road trip and improved the team’s record to 15-6 overall and 9-1 in conference play.
It’s worth noting that the Govs are now in sole possession of first place in the conference, as Lipscomb now has two losses and Queens has three.
Lady Govs women’s basketball
Thursday, Jan. 29: APSU vs. UNF
The men’s team had a perfect week, so how about the women? Well, the Thursday night matchup looked like a prime spot for the team to pick up a home conference win.
The Govs played the North Florida Ospreys earlier in January at their house and dominated. The Govs won that first matchup 80-55, but the rematch couldn’t have been more different.
The Govs had a dreadful first quarter and found themselves in a 21-6 hole entering the second. The team shot just 3-11 from the field in the first, while the Ospreys couldn’t miss.
The second quarter was better, as the Govs clawed back but still entered the half in a 38-21 hole. The third quarter, which has been a trouble spot for the Govs this season, was their best quarter on Thursday, and got the team back in the game.
The Govs scored 29 points in that third quarter and shot 40% from deep. It was anybody’s game going into the fourth, but ultimately, the hole the Govs were in was just too much to come out of, and the Ospreys escaped with a 69-66 win.
The loss moved the Govs to 5-4 in conference play and 3-6 at home.
Saturday, Jan. 31: APSU vs. Jacksonville
The Govs entered the second game of their homestand on Saturday, looking to get back on the winning track. Like North Florida, the Govs had already beaten Jacksonville once this season as well.
Unlike Thursday, the Govs came out hot on Saturday. The team had a 43-38 lead heading into the half and had all the momentum heading into the second. Unfortunately, the third quarter troubles came back to haunt the Govs, as they scored just 12 points.
After a slow third quarter, the team responded with a 14-point fourth quarter, which ended up not being quite enough to win. The game was tied at 68 late when Jacksonville’s Carmaya Bowman hit a game-winning shot with less than two seconds to play.
It was a devastating end for the Govs, who were hoping to pick up a huge conference home win. Instead, the team dropped both on this homestand and now they sit at 13-7 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
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