CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) — Freshman Terry Taylor put the Govs on his back and spurred a furious second-half rally to lift Austin Peay State University men’s basketball to a 75-73 win against Troy, Tuesday, in the Dunn Center.
Taylor scored 20 of his team-high 27 points in the second half as the Govs erased a nine-point halftime deficit thanks to timely shooting and the type of lockdown defense that Matt Figger’s squad is fast becoming known for.
Despite its proclivity for defense, Austin Peay had a hard time containing Troy in a first half that saw the Trojans hit 53.8 percent from the floor. The Trojans’ ball movement was crisp, particularly from Kevin Baker (five first-half assists), necessitating a late-half switch to a 3-2 zone on the Austin Peay defensive end after Troy ripped off a 19-6 run which chewed up nearly half of the opening 20 minutes.
Foul trouble, particularly against some of Austin Peay’s more dynamic offensive options, also had the Govs on the ropes in the first half. Taylor scored Austin Peay’s first seven points but was beset by foul trouble for the rest of the half, while Chris Porter-Bunton and Dayton Gumm were limited to nine combined first half minutes due to foul trouble.
But the gloves came off in the second half for the Govs thanks to a herculean effort from Taylor and some dead-eye shooting from Zach Glotta. During the course of the Governors game-changing 18-2 run from 13:04 to 8:13 of the second half, Glotta hit a trio of three-pointers to provide the spark, while Taylor chipped in six of his 20 second half points, including an emphatic dunk to tie the game at 9:23.
Taylor’s final five points lifted the Govs for good. After a Baker jumper with 2:26 remaining tied the game again, Taylor converted a three-point play and followed it up with a jumper on the next possession to put the Govs up five—Troy would get no closer than a point with 15 seconds to go.