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Austin Peay State University Men’s Basketball takes on Oakland City at Dunn Center, Thursday

Austin Peay (3-7) vs. Oakland City (6-1)

December 18th, 2014 | 7:00pm CT
Clarksville, TN | Dunn Center

Austin Peay State University Governors - APSUClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team seeks to build some pre-Christmas momentum when it plays host to high-scoring Oakland City, 7:00pm, Thursday, in Dave Aaron Arena.

Austin Peay Men's Basketball hosts Oakland City, Thursday. (APSU Sports Information)

The Governors enter the contest after Monday’s 73-70 victory against Troy. It snapped APSU’s three-game losing streak. Now the Govs hope to turn thing the other way by starting a winning streak.

To do the Govs will have to shackle an explosive Oakland City offense that is averaging 97.3 points per contest, including four games with more than 100 points. The Mighty Oaks are off to a 6-1 start with five players averaging in double figures.

APSU's Jeremy PurvisForward Trevor Smith leads Oakland City, averaging 18.2 points per outing, while guard Matt Lucas is at 15.4 points per outing. Brandon Morton, the 6-7 forward, is averaging a double-double at 13.7 points and 10 rebounds per game.

The Govs are coming off a contest where they held Troy to just 36.4 percent shooting in the opening half—the Trojans had shot more than 50 percent from the floor in the first halves of their previous four contests. But Troy reversed that trend in the second half, shooting 55.2 percent, and nearly erased a 16-point deficit in a four-minute span and then a 10-point deficit in the final 41 seconds.

APSU's Ed DysonPoor free-throw shooting has been a cause for concern. After shooting just 61 percent in last Saturday’s loss against Lipscomb, the Govs struggled to 13-of-24 (54 percent) shooting against Troy. APSU was just 2-of-8 during the final 41 seconds.

Senior point guard Jeremy Purvis, starting in place of injured Zavion Williams for a second straight game, nailed a quartet of three pointers to score a career-best 13 points. Fellow guard Ed Dyson led APSU in scoring for a second straight game with 15 points while Khalil Davis added 12 points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists.

Center Chris Horton, meanwhile, tallied his season’s fifth double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds to go with three blocks, three assists and two steals.  It also the 50th time in Horton’s three-year APSU career he led them in rebounding.

Despite shooting just 38 percent (12 of 32) in the first half, the Govs were able to carve out a seven-point, 30-23, advantage. The Govs shooting markedly improved in the second half (58 percent) but watched their defense wane.

APSU had just 10 players available, Monday, and it appears it will be that way again Thursday. Zavion Williams (leg) remains out while Chris Porter-Bunton, who suffered a leg stress fracture back in October, now has elected to redshirt.

What You Should Know

The Series: This is the fifth meeting between the two programs, with APSU leading the series, 4-0. This is the third straight season the two programs have met. APSU won last seasons’s meeting, 84-69, November 8th, 2013, in Clarksville.

What A Win Would Mean: It would make the Govs 4-7 in 2014…it would make the Govs 3-1 at home in the 2014-15 season…it would be the Govs second straight win…the Govs would go to 2-2 in December…it would make the Govs 5-0 all-time against Oakland City…it would make Dave Loos 5-0 against Oakland City…it would give Loos a 5-0 record against Oakland City coach Mike Sandifar…it would be Dave Loos’ 469th career victory.

What A Loss Would Mean: The Govs drop to 3-8 in 2014…it would be the Govs second home loss this season…they would go to 1-3 in December…Loos would drop to 468-412 overall and 386-359 as the Governors head coach.

Broadcast Information

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

TV • GovTV• OVCDN
Play-by-Play: Charlie Patten
Analyst: Braden Wood

Govs on the Web

Live Video: www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com
Live Audio: www.LetsGoPeay.com
Live Statistics: www.LetsGoPeay.com

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