APSU Sports Information: Austin Peay Basketball
Richmond, KY – Aided by four turnovers, Eastern Kentucky rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 2:29 to defeat Austin Peay State University, 67-65, Thursday night in Ohio Valley Conference action.
It was Austin Peay’s OVC opener and it was the Govs’ league-opening defeat since the 2005-06 season. The Govs are now 3-11 overall on the season. Eastern Kentucky, meanwhile, improved to 2-0 in league play and 8-6 overall.
After rallying from 29-24 halftime deficit to own a 10-point, 60-50 lead with 4:49 left, the Governors watched the game slip away as Eastern Kentucky frustrated APSU offensively with its halfcourt trap. After Eastern Kentucky cut the deficit to six, 63-56, on a DiMitri Riggs jumper, the Govs then began to unravel.The Govs were unable to convert a tip in with 2:45 left remaining and APSU fouled Jaron Jones, who sank one of two free-throw attempts to make it a five-point game.
Jerome Clyburn then committed a turnover with 2:29 left. EKU’s Jeff Johnson was fouled. The big center made one of two shots to cut the Govs lead to four, 63-59. The Govs then missed a driving shot by Josh Terry, with Riggs gaining the rebound and converting it into a layup with 1:24 left to make it a two-point contest, 63-61, with 1:39 remaining.
Clinging to the two-point lead, the Govs then saw Clyburn attempt to feed the post with Johnson reaching around and gaining the steal. Joshua Jones then immediately attacked the basket, nailing a jumper to tie the game at 63 all with 1:13 remaining.
After TyShwan Edmondson missed a jumper with 54 seconds left, Riggs grabbed the rebound. Again the Colonels put the ball into Joshua Jones’ hands. This time he attacked the basket. Will Triggs blocked the shot but was called for the foul. Jones hit both free throws to give EKU the lead, 65-63, with 33 seconds left.
Another Govs turnover in the halfcourt led to Eku’S Mike DiNunno being fouled with 17 seconds left. The redshirt junior made just one of two free throws, giving the Govs an opportunity to potential tie the game with a three pointer. However, the Govs could not even get off a shot before committing another turnover with 10 seconds left.
DiNunno again was fouled and again he made one of two free throws, but that was good enough to give EKU a four-point lead and no opportunity on this trip to tie the game.
Edmondson, who had just two first-half points but sparked APSU’s second-half comeback, led the Govs with 18 points. John Fraley added 15 points and 14 rebounds-his first double-double for 2011-12. Josh Terry also had 15 points.
The Govs finished the night shooting 41.7 percent (25 of 60) from the floor while out-rebound EKU by a convincing 43-28 margin. But also APSU committed 17 turnovers, 11 coming in the final half.
Eastern Kentucky was led by Jaron Jones, who scored 19 points while mastering baseline play against the Govs. DiNunno ended with 11.
Eastern Kentucky shot only 42.9 percent (24 of 56) from the floor but took advantage of APSU turnovers for 22 points.
Austin Peay is back in action at 11:00am Saturday morning, December 31st at Morehead State completing their “Death Valley” trip.
Box Score
Austin Peay vs Eastern Kentucky
12/29/11 7:00pm at Richmond, KY — McBrayer Arena
Austin Peay 65
 |  |  | Total | 3-point |  | Rebounds | ||||||||
## | Player | p | fgm-fga | fgm-fga | ftm-fta | off-def | tot | pf | tp | a | to | blk | stl | min |
20 | BAKER, Melvin | f | 2-8 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 3-5 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
21 | FRALEY, John | c | 7-12 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 5-9 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 29 |
12 | EDMONDSON, TyShwan | g | 7-17 | 2-8 | 2-2 | 1-3 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
23 | TERRY, Josh | g | 7-14 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 3-4 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
32 | BLAKE, Justin | g | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
01 | CLYBURN, Jerome | – | 1-3 | 1-1 | 6-8 | 0-4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 27 |
10 | TRIGGS, Will | – | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3-1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
11 | GREER, Thomas | – | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
22 | LAWRENCE, Herdie | – | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
TM | TEAM | – | – | – | – | 2-0 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
 | Totals………….. | – | 25-60 | 3-11 | 12-17 | 17-26 | 43 | 21 | 65 | 15 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 200 |
 | 41.7% | 27.3% | 70.6% | |||||||||||
 | Team summary: |  | FG | 3FG | FT | |||||||||
 | 1st Half: |  | 10-28 | 1-4 | 3-4 | |||||||||
 | 35.7% | 25.0% | 75.0% | |||||||||||
 | 2nd Half: |  | 15-32 | 2-7 | 9-13 | |||||||||
 | 46.9% | 28.6% | 69.2% |
Eastern Kentucky 67
 |  |  | Total | 3-point |  | Rebounds | ||||||||
## | Player | p | fgm-fga | fgm-fga | ftm-fta | off-def | tot | pf | tp | a | to | blk | stl | min |
15 | JONES, Jaron | f | 7-11 | 0-2 | 5-8 | 1-1 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 33 |
42 | STUTZ, Eric | f | 3-7 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 |
03 | DiNUNNO, Mike | g | 2-6 | 1-3 | 6-11 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
05 | JONES, Joshua | g | 3-11 | 1-7 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 |
32 | RIGGS, D’Mitri | g | 3-11 | 0-5 | 0-0 | 5-4 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
12 | NEWBY, Jabs | – | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
20 | ALLGOOD, Jeff | – | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
22 | KNIPP, Timmy | – | 3-5 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
24 | JOHNSON, Jeff | – | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
41 | FILIPEK, Taylor | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
TM | TEAM | – | – | – | – | 1-0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
 | Totals………….. | – | 24-56 | 5-24 | 14-23 | 10-18 | 28 | 17 | 67 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 200 |
 | 42.9% | 20.8% | 60.9% | |||||||||||
 | Team summary: |  | FG | 3FG | FT | |||||||||
 | 1st Half: |  | 11-25 | 3-14 | 4-5 | |||||||||
 | 44.0% | 21.4% | 80.0% | |||||||||||
 | 2nd Half: |  | 13-31 | 2-10 | 10-18 | |||||||||
 | 41.9% | 20.0% | 55.6% |
Score by Periods | 1st | 2nd | Total | Â |
Austin Peay | 24 | 41 | 65 | Record: (3-11, 0-1 OVC) |
Eastern Kentucky | 29 | 38 | 67 | Record: (8-6, 2-0 OVC) |
Officials: Steve Divine, Craig Murley, John Campbell
Technical fouls: Austin Peay-BAKER, Melvin. Eastern Kentucky-TEAM. Attendance: 2350 |