Late-first half Missouri run dooms Governors

December 27, 2009 |

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Austin Peay State University could not overcome a Missouri 18-3 first-half ending run as the Governors fell, 94-79, Sunday, in non-conference basketball action played at Mizzou Arena.
The victory improved Missouri, which advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament a year ago, to 9-3 overall while Austin Peay fell to 8-6.

For much of the first half, Austin Peay failed to succumb to Missouri’s pressure and hung with the Tigers, behind the shooting of senior guard Wesley Channels. In fact, when Duran Roberson hit a lane jumper with 9:20 left in the first half, it gave Austin Peay s 26-24 lead, forcing Missouri to call a time out. The game continued to go back and forth—eight ties total in the first half—until Missouri took the lead for good 32-30 on a Keith Ramsey jumper.

Wesley Channels takes the ball upcourt against Missouri (Nelson Chenault Photography)

When Anthony Campbell knocked down a jumper with five minutes left, the Govs trailed 33-32. However, APSU scored just three more points the half’s remainder. Turnovers became the norm on the offensive end against Missouri’s zone defense. Having committed just five turnovers in the first 13 minutes of the half against the Tigers constant pressure, the Govs turned it over seven times, including six steals, over the final seven minutes. On the defensive end, APSU could not contain the Missouri three-point barrage. In the final 3:41 the Tigers hit four three-point shots that spurred Missouri to a 51-35 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, the Tigers’ lead grew to more than 20, 76-49, at one point. But the Governors battled back to cut it all the way down to 11 late in the game. However, Missouri scored the game’s final points for the final margin.

Channels led the Governors with 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting. Campbell finished with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting along with seven rebounds.

Caleb Brown finished with nine points and eight assists. More importantly, he had just one turnover against the Missouri’s fullcourt and halfcourt pressure.

The Governors shot a respectable 46.8 percent (29 of 62) from the floor, including 6-of-18 from the three-point line. But those percentages were even close to Missouri’s. The Tigers, who were shooting better than 50 percent from the floor at home entering the game, scorched the Govs for 62.1 percent (36 of 58) from the floor but an even more impressive 52.6 percent (10 of 19) from three-point territory.

Sophomore guard Kim English matched Channels with 23 points while guard Marcus Denmon came off the bench to add 17. Missouri, which came into the game ranked second in the nation in steals (13.0) per game, came away with 12 steals against the Govs.

Austin Peay outrebounded the Tigers 35-29, including a game-high nine by John Fraley.

The Governors now will get ready to return to Ohio Valley Conference action, 8 p.m., Saturday when they travel to Morehead State, the defending OVC tourney champs.

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