CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay men’s basketball team was back on the court Saturday, just days after a hard-fought home win over the Lipscomb Bisons.
That win ensured the Govs kept the lead in the ASUN and now have a two-game edge over Lipscomb. However, every game is tough in conference play, and the Govs knew they had a heated rival, North Alabama, on the schedule for this Saturday.
North Alabama has not had the season they imagined having. After winning 24 games last year and going 14-4 in conference play, the team was widely expected to contend again this season. However, entering Saturday, the Lions were sitting at a disappointing 7-14 with a 2-8 record in ASUN play.
This much-anticipated matchup was also Military Appreciation Day for the Govs. The administration was expecting a great crowd, and that’s exactly what they got. The official attendance number was 4,136, which is easily a new record for the Govs in F&M Bank Arena. The previous attendance record was just set on Wednesday against Lipscomb.
Final score: Austin Peay 91, UNA 62
It’s not an exaggeration to say the Govs dominated this one from the jump. In total, there were three lead changes and four ties, but the Govs led for the majority of the contest and had a lead as large as 33 points at one time in the second half.
In the first half, freshman point guard Zyree Collins and star big man Collin Parker were a two-man wrecking crew. Collins had 17 points, including three three-pointers, in the first half alone, leading all scorers. Parker, meanwhile, chipped in 13 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
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Tate McCubbin also bounced back after not scoring against Lipscomb, hitting two three-pointers in the half. The Govs went to the break with a commanding 47-26 lead and never looked back after that.
The scoring for the Govs was a little more spread out in the second half. Parker was the leading scorer with 14 in the half, to give himself 27 for the game. Parker has now scored 20+ points in four consecutive contests.
Collins finished with 26 points of his own, while McCubbin also ended the game in double figures, with 11 points. While only four players scored against Lipscomb, nine of the 10 Govs who saw the court put up points in this one.
For the second game in a row, the Govs were extremely efficient in this one. The team shot 60% from deep against Lipscomb and followed that up by shooting 59% from deep against North Alabama. The Govs also shot 63% from the field while holding the Lions to just 41% from the field and 21% from deep.
What this win means for the Govs
The 29-point victory is the largest margin of victory for the Govs in conference play this season. This win also breaks the Lions’ three-game win streak over the Govs, and gives the Govs their first win over their rival since the 2023-24 season.
The Govs are the only team in the ASUN with just one conference loss and are two games ahead of second place in the win column. The win also maintains the Govs’ perfect home record this season. With just two home games remaining, the Govs are on the verge of ending the season with a perfect home record.
The Govs needed to get this win for a couple of reasons. For one, there was a record crowd on hand, and you love to send them home happy. Additionally, the Govs travel to Charlotte, NC, to take on Queens this week. Queens is in third place in the conference, and the team has only lost one home game all season.
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