Govs topple the Racers in thrilling overtime affair

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Govs defeated the School Up North. That makes for a good opener to describe Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team’s 84-81 overtime win against archrival Murray State—its first in eight attempts in the Dunn Center and its first overtime win against the Racers since 2008.

It would have been difficult to peg this as the night Austin Peay stopped a cavalcade of streaks against Murray State at the game’s outset, which featured a ghastly first half of shooting for Austin Peay. The Governors hit just 26.5 percent in the first half, starting the game on a 6-for-27 stretch before hitting three of seven to close the half.

Despite being down by 10 at one point, Austin Peay was able to keep the contest close thanks to ballhawk defending—saw Murray State commit 11 first-half turnovers—and the will to drive the lane and absorb contact; the Govs were a perfect 9-for-9 at the line in the first half, capping the frame with a Josh Robinson three-point play to make it 32-28 Racers at the break.

In the second half, Austin Peay could not be stopped, hitting 17 of 27 (63.0 percent) from the floor to pull ahead by eight with just over a minute to go. But Murray State’s Jonathan Stark put on a John Murry-esque scoring display, scoring 10 points in 1:03, the last two a bucket with two seconds left to force overtime.

Reeling from the late Racer surge, the Governors rallied back in overtime, opening the extra frame with a three-point play from senior Kenny Jones and making it a two-possession game with 1:32 to go thanks to a Robinson three-pointer. A Stark layup with 56 seconds left would be as close as the Racers got the rest of the way, thanks to clutch free-throw shooting from Murry and Jared Savage, who recorded his first career double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds).

For the first time since Dec. 15, the Governors won the rebounding battle, outpacing the Racers 45-42 on the boards. Savage and Jones (11 points, 11 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles, the first time since Feb. 13, 2016 that two Governors have posted double-doubles in the same game.

Austin Peay hosts UT Martin in an 8 p.m., Thursday contest that will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, the Governors second CBS appearance this season. It will be head coach Dave Loos’ first attempt at career win No. 500.