Kevin Murphy hit a three pointer with 1.3 seconds left to lift Tennessee Tech to a 68-65 upset win against Austin Peay State University in Ohio Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals action, Tuesday night, in Dave Aaron Arena.
Murphy’s shot came just 5.5 seconds after the Governors’ Anthony Campbell had tied the game at 65-65 with a baseline three pointer.
Murphy, a 6-6 sophomore forward who scored 16 second-half points, then pushed the ball up the floor on the dribble and let the long jumper fly from the top of the circle for the go-ahead bucket. APSU never got off a shot in the final 1.3 seconds as Tennessee Tech, 15-16 on the season and the No. 6 seed entering the tourney, advances to the OVC tournament semifinals, 6 p.m., Friday against Morehead State.
Austin Peay, meanwhile, finishes its season at 17-15 overall.
The loss typified the Govs late-season struggles. The Govs built a 28-24 halftime lead and even led 41-33 in the second half with 13:09 remaining. However, APSU’s defense started to crumble—Tennessee Tech shot 65.5 percent (19 of 29) in the second—while the Govs deficient free-throw shooting helped open the door. Tennessee Tech proceeded to score on six of its next seven possessions equating to a 13-6 run as the Golden Eagles knifed through APSU’s interior defense.
Then Murphy knocked down a jumper with 9:10 left to give Tennessee Tech the lead, 48-47 lead. The Golden Eagles then built as much as a five-point lead before the Govs made a final push. John Fraley made it a one-point game with 3:11 left by converting a conventional three-point play.
The Govs got the ball back with 1:40 left with a chance to take the lead. But Caleb Brown was stripped of the ball and Murphy went the length of the court to put down a layup. Fraley then responded with a short baseline jumper before Elijah Muhammad drove the lane to Tennessee Tech up by three with 24 seconds left.
Campbell used a pick to get off a three pointer with 13 seconds left, but the ball kicked out. However, Fraley grabbed the rebound and kicked it to Campbell in the corner to tie the game. That set up the game-winning shot.
Murphy led Tennessee Tech with 18 points, while post player Alfred Jones also added 18.
Campbell led Austin Peay with 16 points while Wesley Channels added 13. The Govs’ lone starting senior finished his career with 1700 points.
