Austin Peay Governors Basketball grabs first OVC victory of year, blow out Eastern Kentucky 80-65

Clarksville, TN – Entering Thursday night’s game against Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos made his message to the team clear.

Get the ball down low.

And, unsurprisingly, the Govs did just that – with John Fraley’s career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds fueling the team to its first OVC win of the season in an 80-65 victory over Eastern Kentucky.

Against the undersized Colonels, the Govs (4-13, 1-3 OVC) scored exactly half of their points in the paint with Fraley recording his second double-double of the season in the process.

“I have to give all of the props to the guards,” Fraley said. “Coach has been emphasizing to get the ball inside, but those guys were finding me where I could score. All the bigs scored inside tonight.”

Melvin Baker turned in another solid effort down low, scoring 16 points and keeping the Colonels front line off balance.

“We were just sharing the ball,” Baker said. “John had a good game which contributed to me and everyone else having a good game. We went out there and got the W and got it done.”

Fraley powered the Govs offense from the opening tip, scoring the team’s first seven points as the Govs raced out to a 7-3 lead.

The teams would trade baskets until the 14 minute mark when Baker and Fraley combined for three straight baskets to extend the Govs lead to 20-12.

After a 12-6 Colonels run made it 26-24 with 7:35 to play before halftime, the Govs closed out the first half with a 12-7 run of their own to take a 38-31 halftime lead.

It wouldn’t be so easy for the Govs in the second half, however.

After extending their lead to 42-37, the Colonels (10-8, 4-2) went on a 12-6 run of their own to take a 49-48 lead with 12:21 to play.

“I think we had some lapses at times,” Loos said. “But they’re a good team, too. I think he’s (Colonels head coach Jeff Neubauer) done a good job with them and they played a really down-to-the-wire game at Murray. They are a good basketball team.”

After the Colonels run, Loos said, is when the Govs remembered his message of post play and defense as the Govs went on a 25-2 run late to put the game away.

“We got it going defensively and kept playing unselfish and getting the ball where we wanted,” Loos said. “I really think it was all set up by our defense tonight.”

The Govs also received solid efforts from reserves Herdie Lawrence and Justin Blake, who finished with eight and seven points each.

Lawrence also contributed big minutes defensively, helping contain Colonels leading scorer Jaron Jones to 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

“In addition to the our patience the thing that really turned it around for us was Herdie’s defense on Jones,” Loos said. “(Jones) was wearing us out and Herdie came in and did a great job on him.”

With the win, the Govs avoided falling to 0-4 in the OVC for the first time since 1993.

And, because of games Saturday and Monday against Jacksonville State and Tennessee State, the Govs are now in position to even their conference mark in quick fashion.

“I think tonight showed that we had a pulse,” Loos said. “Now we have to decide if this will be for one game and we regress or we decide to improve.”

Interview With Dave Loos

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ceN8r81SOA&[/youtube]

Box Score

Eastern Kentucky vs Austin Peay
1/12/12 – 7:00pm at Clarksville, TN (Dunn Center)

Eastern Kentucky 65

Austin Peay 80