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HomeSportsGovernors open 2011 with visit from Chattanooga

Governors open 2011 with visit from Chattanooga

APSU Men’s Basketball

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay hopes it can open the 2011 portion of its schedule the game way it ended 2010.

In fact, the Governors closed out 2010 with a season-long three-game winning streak. Austin Peay hopes to add to that streak and open with its first 2011 win as Chattanooga comes to town for a 7:00pm, Monday contest.

APSU Men's Basketball (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)
APSU Men's Basketball (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)

When they defeated the Mocs, 70-67 on a three-pointer by Caleb Brown with 0.2 seconds left, November 15th, the Governors captured their first-ever win at McKenzie Arena. If the Governors can defeat the Mocs, Monday, it will be the first time since the 1959-60, 1960-61 seasons the Governors have won two-straight games in the series.

Chattanooga comes in at 7-7 on the season, having lost the championship game to Georgia State, 81-76, Thursday, of the Dr. Pepper Classic. It was just the second loss for the Mocs in the last seven games.

Forward Omar Wattad leads the Mocs with a 14.0 ppg with guard Ricky Taylor at 11.1 ppg. However, 6-8 forward/center DeAndre Jefferson earned Dr. Pepper Classic all-tourney honors after scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds off the bench against Georgia State in the tourney title game.

Caleb BrownBut the Mocs offense revolves around point guard Keegan Bell, the Bob Cousy Award nominee who is averaging 8.9 ppg and 6.6 apg.

The Govs return to action for the first time since downing undermanned Brescia, 101-46, last Tuesday, when APSU set a Dunn Center record with 30 assists.

Since that victory the Govs have been amidst two-a-day practices as the APSU coaching staff hopes to fine-tune both its offense and defense before returning to OVC play Saturday at Murray State.

The first match up with UTC was a defensive struggle for both clubs. It promises to be such again. APSU has watched its defensive field-goal percentage drop to 43.8 percent after some recent strong performances. Meanwhile, UTC opponents are shooting just 41.5 percent from the floor and 32.2 percent from three-point range–the same percentage Govs opponents are shooting from three-point territory.

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