APSU Men’s Basketball
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay literally has to hit the reset button as it prepares to face Eastern Kentucky, 7:00pm, Saturday at the Dunn Center, as both teams resume Ohio Valley Conference play.
First of all, the Governors quickly must put behind them Thursday’s disappointing 70-68 overtime defeat at Memphis.
Secondly, the Govs literally have to change their focus from the fast-paced style fashioned by Memphis to a more methodical approach provided by Eastern Kentucky. In fact, EKU’s renown 1-3-1 zone defense also will affect contest’s tempo.
Guard Justin Stommes, who was suspended for the season’s first three regular-season games, finally is gaining his shooting touch. He knocked down five three pointers in scoring 19 points as the Colonels lost earlier this week at Minnesota.
However, it is forward Spencer Perrin who leads EKU in scoring (12.2 ppg) while guard Josh Daniels is at 11.4 with Stommes at 10.3 ppg.
The Colonels love to play outside-in as EKU has taken 198 three pointers in 10 games. That figure represents 39 percent of EKU’s shot attempts.
Not known for their inside presence in past seasons, the Colonels are outrebounding their opponents by an average of 1.8 rpg. In fact, they outrebounded Murray State in their OVC-opening contest.
Rebounding was a Govs’ strength against Memphis as the Governors held a 51-41 advantage of the taller Tigers. The Governors also forced Memphis into 24 turnovers while collecting a season-best 15 steals along the way.
Both TyShwan Edmondson (22 points/10 rebounds) and Melvin Baker (17 points/ 11 rebounds) collected double doubles in the Memphis contest.
