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Austin Peay State University Basketball hoping to finish strong

Southeast Missouri vs. Austin Peay Governors

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 | 7:30pm (CT)
Clarksville, TN | Dunn Center

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay men’s basketball team will enter this weekend in an extremely unfamiliar territory. One of the OVC’s most successful programs for nearly the last three decades will not be playing for an OVC tournament seed.

The Governors strictly will be playing for pride and building for the future when they play Southeast Missouri, 7:00pm, Thursday, and UT Martin, 7:30pm, Saturday.

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

A string of close losses to end the 2012 portion carried over into 2013. In fact, APSU opened OVC play with a pair of two-point losses to SEMO and UTM. After a three-point loss to Murray State in the OVC season’s second week, sent the Govs confidence tumbling even more so, resulting in an eight-game losing streak. By the time, the Governors regained traction two weekends ago they literally were all but out of tourney contention.

As a result, APSU will attempt to celebrate seniors Anthony Campbell and Jerome Clyburn on their respective two-season careers.

In facing Southeast Missouri, Thursday, the Govs will be facing a talented, but somewhat baffling team. The Redhawks were expected to challenge Murray State for the OVC West Division title and, although they are in second place in the division, they have only a 6-8 league mark, four games behind the Racers.

The Redhawks are led by preseason All-OVC forward Tyler Stone leads the Redhawks in scoring at 15.2 ppg while also grabbing 7.9 rpg. Guard Corey Wilford arguably has been SEMO’s top performer during OVC play, averaging 14.3 ppg overall while making a team-leading 67 three pointers.

Guard Marland Smith, also a preseason All-OVC selection, is averaging 10.9 ppg during league play and has re-discovered his three-point touch. Sophomore forward Nino Johnson is averaging 9.0 rpg and is second in the OVC in blocked shots behind Chris Horton.

Fastbreak

This is Dave Loos’ 23rd season as Austin Peay head coach and he is 370-332 at APSU-the winningest basketball coach in Ohio Valley Conference history-and 452-385 all-time in his 27th season as a college head coach

APSU was picked to finish third behind Murray State and Southeast Missouri in the newly-formed OVC West Division in the preseason poll. The Govs, however, have been eliminated from OVC tourney contention with Wednesday’s loss.

This will be the final two games of the Governors season, this game followed by a 7:30pm, Saturday contest that also will serve as senior day for Jerome Clyburn and Anthony Campbell.

Dave Loos is 32-17 overall against Southeast Missouri and holds an 8-3 career mark against Dickey Nutt

Southeast Missouri comes into the final weekend of the OVC race in second place in the Western Division with a 6-8 record. After winning three straight, the Redhawks are amidst a two-game losing streak. They lost on the road at Jacksonville State and at home to Ball State in BracketBusters.

Preseason All-OVC forward Tyler Stone leads the Redhawks in scoring at 15.2 ppg while also grabbing 7.9 rpg. Guard Corey Wilford is averaging 14.3 ppg and has made a team-leading 67 three pointers. Guard Marland Smith, also a preseason All-OVC selection, is averaging 10.9 ppg during league play, shooting a superb 47.9 percent from three-point range. Forward/center Nino Johnson is averaging 9.0 rpg and is second in the OVC in blocked shots behind Chris Horton at 2.6 bpg.

The Series

This is the 50th meeting between Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri, a pair of Ohio Valley Conference rivals. Having won 13 of the last 16 meetings, the Governors hold a 32-17 lead in the series. However, APSU lost this season’s previous meeting in Cape Girardeau, an 86-84 overtime decision. Travis Betran scored 30 points while Will Triggs had a career-best 29. Corey Wilford led SEMO with 19 points while A.J. Jones added 16.

Media Center

Radio: Governors Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Greg Walker
Analyst: David Loos

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www.letsgopeay.com

Television: Peay Nation Broadcasting

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