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HomeSportsAPSU Basketball's rally comes up short in 103-99 loss to Fort Wayne

APSU Basketball’s rally comes up short in 103-99 loss to Fort Wayne

APSU Sports Information

APSU Men's Basketball - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University Governors are going to put up lots of points against just about anybody.

Austin Peay hit 12 of its final 13 shots from the floor to push visiting Fort Wayne to the limit in a 103-99 loss, Wednesday, in the Dunn Center that featured a 60-point second-half outburst by the Governors.

APSU Men's Basketball loses Wednesday night to Fort Wayne at the Dunn Center. (APSU Sports Information)
APSU Men’s Basketball loses Wednesday night to Fort Wayne at the Dunn Center. (APSU Sports Information)

After a tightly-contest opening eight minutes, the Mastodons went on an 18-3 run that took just three minutes to extend the lead to 19 points.

The Govs would spend the half’s remainder chipping away at the deficit, getting as close as eight points with less than a minute to go before taking a 47-37 deficit into the break.

While Jared Savage led the way with 11 first-half points, it would be the Robinson and Murry Show for the Govs in the second half. Junior Josh Robinson scored 26 of his game-high 33 points in the final frame, while John Murry tallied 21 of his career-best 25 points after the break.

Fort Wayne would once again push the lead to nearly 20, leading 74-57 with 10:20 remaining, but Robinson and Murry helped the Govs storm back. The duo combined for 29 of Austin Peay’s final 41 points, helping the Govs rally to within six after Robinson hit all three free-throws after being fouled on a three attempt.

Following to Mo Evans free-throws for Fort Wayne, Murry was fouled on a three attempt as well and sank all three to get the Govs within five points with 24 seconds to go. But with the Govs forced to send Fort Wayne to the line, the Mastodons hit their final six free-throws down the stretch to hold on.

The Difference

Fort Wayne looked to run early and run often, and the Mastodons were extremely successful in that endeavor. The Mastodons outscored the Govs 18-2 in transition points, and scored 16 of their first 64 points on the break.

Notably

  • The 99 points put up by the Govs were the most in a regulation loss since December 29th, 1987 to Providence (105-99).
  • John Murry‘s 25 points were a career-high. The senior from Indianapolis scored 21 in the second half, including 14 points in the final 4:50 of regulation. He also equaled his career-high with three assists.
  • Robinson’s season-high 33 included 26 second-half points (11 over the final 5:40 of the contest). He now has five career 30-point games, has reached 20 points in five of seven contests in 2016-17 and has reached double figures in 24 straight games.
  • The 13 three-pointers by the Governors were a season-high.
  • On his birthday, Dre’Kalo Clayton had one of his finest performances as a Gov, scoring five points and raking in a career-high nine rebounds.
  • The 54 percent from the floor mark was the best shooting performance by the Governors in a loss since hitting 58.0 percent from the floor against Eastern Kentucky, February 22nd, 2014.
  • Strange but true: in Austin Peay’s four wins in 2016-17, the Govs are shooting 60.9 percent from the free-throw line; in their three losses, Austin Peay is now at 75.0 percent from the charity stripe.
  • The Governors 62 second-half points marked the second time this season they scored more than 60 in a half; Austin Peay put up 65 in the first half against Oakland City in the home opener.
  • Senior Kenny Jones posted his season’s fourth double-double with 15 points and 10 boards

Coaching Quotables

Head Coach Dave Loos

“You can’t win many games giving up 100 points, so we have to find a different way. A different way is that we have to get back in transition better and take better care of the ball. We gave up too many rhythm jump shots; we need to make people put the ball on the floor more.”

“We did some nice things (in the second half). I thought in the first half our shot selection wasn’t great and we were a little soft with the ball offensively. We have to play stronger with the basketball.”

Up Next for the Govs

Austin Peay travels to Arkansas for a 7:00pm, Saturday, December 3rd contest at Bud Walton Arena against the 4-1 Razorbacks.

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