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Austin Peay Governors Basketball heads to Chattanooga this weekend for the Dr. Pepper Classic

Austin Peay Governors vs. Utah Valley

December 28th, 2012 | 3:30pm
McKenzie Arena| Chattanooga, TN

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – This is the 23rd Annual Dr. Pepper Classic, hosted by Chattanooga. This is the Austin Peay Governors Basketball’s second tourney appearance. The Governors reached the finals of 2000 Classic.

APSU has never played two-Utah Valley and High Point-of the entrants in this year’s tourney. APSU and Chattanooga have played 18 times previously.

APSU Men's Basketball. (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)
APSU Men’s Basketball. (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)

This is the first meeting between Austin Peay, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, and Utah Valley, a member of the Great West Conference.

This will be APSU’s fourth meeting against current Great West programs.

Fastbreak

  • This is the second of five straight games played away from Dave Aaron Arena, including the OVC-opening weekend at Southeast Missouri (January 30th) and UT Martin (January 5th).
  • Austin Peay enters the game seeking to snap a four-game losing streak after losing 83-57, Saturday, at Illinois State.
  • Utah Valley comes in at 6-8, having play 9 of its 14 games away from Orem, Utah.
  • Veteran coach Dick Hunsaker is in his 11th season as the Wolverines head man, owning a 193-118 record.
  • In his 19th season as head coach, Hunsaker owns a 360-191 record that also includes stops as head man at Ball State, Manchester (Indiana) College and Utah. He also had a pro stint in the CBA.
  • In 2001, he was named Utah’s acting coach after the late Rick Majerus stepped away as coach.
    He was named Mountain West Coach of the Year that season.
  • Four Wolverines are averaging in double figures, led by 6-9 forward Ben Aird, who is averaging 12.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg. In addition, Holton Hunsaker, the son of the coach, is at 11.1 ppg, while forwards Alfonzo Hubbard (10.9 ppg) and Nick Thompson (10.5 ppg) also are double-digit performers.
  • This is Dave Loos’ 23rd season as Austin Peay head coach and he is 367-318 at APSU-the winningest basketball coach in Ohio Valley Conference history-while 449-371 all-time in his 27th season as a college head coach.

What You Should Know

The Series: This is the first meeting between Austin Peay, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, and Utah Valley, a member of the Great West Conference.This will be APSU’s fourth meeting against current Great West programs.

Tournament Preview: This is the 23rd Annual Dr. Pepper Classic, hosted by Chattanooga. This is the Govs second tourney appearance. The Govs reached the finals of 2000 Classic. APSU has never played two–Utah Valley and High Point–of the entrants in this year’s tourney.

Deeper Meanings

What A Win Would Mean: The Govs would move to three games under the .500 mark at 5-8…they would go to 2-5 in December…it would snap a four-game losing streak… the Govs would gain their second neutral site victory this season…they would go to 1-0 against Utah Valley…it would be head coach Dave Loos’ first win against Wolverine head coach Dick Hunsaker…it would be APSU’s third win against current Great West Conference members…it would be Loos’ 450th career victory.

What A Loss Would Mean: The Govs would drop five games below the .500 mark at 4-9…they would lose their fifth straight game…it would make the Govs 1-2 at neutral sites this season…the Govs would fall to 1-6 in December…they would go to 2-2 against Great West Conference members… it would be Dave Loos’ 319th APSU loss and 372nd all-time.

Losing Streak

After opening the season with a modest 4-4 record, the Governors are amidst a four-game losing streak heading into the year’s final weekend. Statistics tell much about the Govs’ December struggles. In the first eight games, the Govs were averaging 72.6 ppg, shooting 46 percent from the floor while permitting only 71.1 ppg, allowing only 43 percent shooting.

In the last four games the Governors are scoring only 65.8 ppg while permitting 80.5 ppg. The Govs are still shooting a respectable 46 percent from the floor but the opponents are shooting 47 percent from the floor. In addition, the Governors are averaging an almost unfathomable 23.5 turnovers per game in that four-game stretch.

11 and Counting

Anthony CampbellIn the previous two seasons, forward Anthony Campbell never got to play in Game No. 11. After game No. 10 of 2010-11, he tore the ACL in his left knee during practice. In 2011-12, Campbell tore the ACL in the same knee in Game No. 10 against Arkansas State.

He celebrated No. 11 this season by scoring a career-high 25 points, including a trio of three pointers against Lipscomb. But he followed that up with 20 more points against Illinois State, knocking down five three pointers along the way. For the week, Campbell shot 53 percent from the floor, including 47 percent (8-17) from three-point range.

From Walk On To Starter

Jeremy PurvisWith senior point guard Jerome Clyburn out indefinitely with a hamstring injury and APSU’s other point guards struggling with turnovers, APSU’s coaching staff turned to a player against Lipscomb who joined the Governors practice sessions a little more than a week earlier.

Jeremy Purvis, who played at Clarksville’s Northeast High School before playing junior college basketball for two seasons at Jackson State, got the starting nod against Lipscomb. He ended up playing 32 minutes and dishing out five assists. More importantly, he had just one turnover against the Bisons.

He then started and played 34 minutes against Illinois State, scoring his first points. In fact, he finished with eight points, including his first two three pointers.

Turnover Troubles

The 25 turnovers against Illinois State represented the fifth time this season the Govs committed 20 or more turnovers this season. The Governors are ranked 336th (out of 345) in turnovers per game, an unsightly 18.8.

Struggling Day

Travis BetranLeading scorer Travis Betran suffered through his worst game as a Governor, being held to two points on 1-of-5 shooting against Illinois State. His previous low was six points at Western Kentucky.

It snapped a streak that saw the junior score in double figures nine straight times. He did have four assists but also committed a season-high six turnovers.

Pointless

Chris HortonLess than a week after receiving his fifth straight OVC Freshman of the Week honor, center Chris Horton failed to score against Illinois State.

He did have a team high five assists, six rebounds and three steals. He failed to gain a block shot for the first time this season.

Freshmen Forays

Preston HerringFreshman forward Preston Herring played only the final four minutes against Illinois State, but scored eight points, knocking down a pair of three pointers in the process.

Another freshman, guard Cory Arentsen, made two-of-four three pointers against ISU, making it five straight games with at least one three pointer. In fact, he has made at least one three pointer in all but one game this season.

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