ATHENS, Ohio—John Fraley knocked down two free throws with 0.8 seconds left to lift Austin Peay State University to a 68-66 non-conference victory against Ohio, Wednesday night, in basketball action played at the Convocation Center.
The victory was the 320th Austin Peay victory for Govs’ coach Dave Loos, allowing him to move past Cal Luther (Murray State, 1958-74, UT Martin 1992-99) for most wins while coaching in the Ohio Valley Conference.
“I have not said a lot about it but I am proud of this mark,” said Loos, now in his 20th APSU season. “It is not about one person. It is about all the quality players we have had, the assistant coaches who have worked here, the four presidents who have supported this program and the loyal fans of Austin Peay basketball. There are so many people who share in this record.”
The Governors won for the fourth straight game and ended Ohio’s 30-game non-conference winning streak. The record-breaking night occurred because Fraley was in the right place at the right time.
After Ohio tied the contest with 15 seconds left, the Governors called time out. On the ensuing inbounds play, Caleb Brown worked the ball to senior guard Wes Channels, who already had scored 17 second-half points. Channels drove the lane from the top of the key and attempted to dump off a pass inside to sophomore forward Anthony Campbell. But the ball was slapped away from Campbell but it rolled underneath the basket to Fraley, who went up for the potential game-winning shot. But Kenneth Van Kempen fouled Fraley while blocking the shot.
Fraley stepped to the line and made the first free throw with 0.8 seconds left. After a timeout, Fraley was supposed to miss the second shot, however, that shot went down as well. On the ensuing inbounds pass down floor, Duran Roberson made the steal and the Govs ended up with their second 2009-10 win against a Mid-American Conference school.
The victory came about after APSU overcame a miserable first half that saw the Govs jump out to a 6-1 lead only to find themselves down by 13 just before halftime while shooting just 33.3 percent (10 of 30). Only a Wes Channels three-pointer in the closing minute made it a 33-23 contest at intermission.
That shot also seemed to inspire Channels, who connected on four-of-five three-point attempts in the second half to finish with 22 points. He also had 10 rebounds for the game for his first career double-double.
Although the Govs would fall behind by 13 again early in the second half, the APSU defense ignited a turnaround that saw the game tied at 40-40, thanks also to the offensive production of Channels and Anthony Campbell, who scored seven of his 12 points during the stretch.
Guard Caleb Brown then hit a layup on a pass from Marcel Williams to complete the 17-2 run that gave APSU its first lead, 42-40, since early in the game.
The host Bobcats then recaptured the momentum and built as much as a six-point lead, only to watch Channels stop the charge with a three-pointer with 6:55 left to make it a 55-52 conest. But the lead would go back to five points only again to see Channels hit two straight three pointers sandwiched around a Bobcat free throw to tie the game 58 all with 5:21 left.
From there it was a one possession game the rest of the way, with Roberson knocking down a long three-pointer with 2:36 to give APSU a three-point lead. But the Bobcats clawed back to tie the final 20 seconds, setting the stage for Fraley, who has made 11 of his last 12 free throws, clinch the Governors’ fourth straight victory.
Fraley and Campbell each finished with 12 points to supplement Channels’ 22-point performance. It was Channels fourth straight 20-point outing.
Armon Bassett and DeVaughn Washington each had 12 points to lead Ohio, now 4-3 on the season.
