APSU Governors Basketball travel to Morehead State to take on the Eagles Wednesday

Austin Peay Governors vs. Morehead State Eagles

Wednesday, February, 19th, 2014 | 6:00pm CT
Morehead, KY | Ellis T. Johnson Arena

Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team are on the road Wednesday, February 19th in an important OVC matchup against the Morehead State Eagles.

Austin Peay enters Wednesday with a 5-7 Ohio Valley Conference record. They are currently in fourth place in the OVC West but more importantly in eighth place in the overall OVC standings. The top eight teams qualify for the OVC tourney but three of APSU’s final four games are on the road.

Morehead State already has secured a spot in the OVC tournament, owning an 18-9 overall record and 9-3 OVC mark. They are in second in the OVC East behind Belmont.

Austin Peay Governors

The Austin Peay Governors dropped a home encounter to SIU Edwardsville, 83-68, Saturday, which saw them greatly undone by poor shooting. APSU shot just 41.2 percent (21 of 51) from the floor, including 5-of-18 from three-point range. They also made just 21 of 33 free throws.

Ed Dyson has scored in double figures five straight games, averaging 17.8 over that span. Travis Betran scored 19 points against SIUE, 10 coming from the free-throw line. In fact, has made 18 straight free throws entering Wednesday.

Morehead State Eagles

The Eagles swept last weekend’s road trip to Jacksonville State (69-67) and Tennessee Tech (79-53).

In league play, the Eagles are out-rebounding the opposition by a sizable 37.1-to-28.3 margin and are connecting on 76.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Guards Angelo Warner (16.7 ppg) and Brent Arrington (11.4 ppg) lead the way while up front Drew Kelly averages 12.8 ppg and Chad Posthumus 10.3 rpg.

The Series

This is the 104th meeting between Austin Peay and Morehead State, with the Eagles holding a 52-51 advantage. The Governors won last season’s only meeting, 84-81, on a Travis Betran three pointer at the overtime buzzer. It snapped the Govs’ four-game losing streak in the series.

What A Win Would Mean

It would make the Governors 12-15 heading into Saturday’s home finale against Eastern Kentucky…it would make the Govs 6-7 in the OVC…it would make the Govs 6-7 in 2014…it would make the Govs 3-2 in February… it would improve the Govs to 3-9 on the road…it would improve the Govs to 2-5 on the road during OVC play…they would even the overall series with Morehead State at 52-52…it would make Dave Loos 28-20 all-time against Morehead State…it would make Loos 2-0 all-time against Morehead State coach Sean Woods…it would be Dave Loos’ 466th career victory.

Cleaning Up

With his career-best 24-point performance against Eastern Illinois and 14 more in a foul-plagued performance against SIUE, junior guard Ed Dyson has scored double figures five straight games, averaging 17.8 ppg during that stretch.

He also had a career-best 11 rebounds against Eastern Illinois for his first career double-double.

Free Throw Woes

Free-throw shooting was an issue as the Govs shot below 70 percent at the line in both weekend games. It almost proved costly in the final minute of the Govs’ win against EIU, Thursday—overall APSU made 31 of a season-high 45 free tosses. However, against SIUE on a night when the floor shots were not falling, a 21-of-33 free-throw effort (63.6 percent) proved consequential.

Number 12

Chris Horton, who had only three rebounds at halftime against SIUE, finished with 10 rebounds to go with 10 points.

It was his 12th double-double this season.

Smith Out Again

Junior point guard Damarius Smith, who suffered an ankle injury in the second half at Tennessee State, missed his third straight game against SIU Edwardsville. His status for this week remains uncertain.

Above The Rim

Chris Horton’s four-block effort against SIUE was the 15th time this season the sophomore center has recorded three or more blocks and 31st time in his career.

Media Center

Radio: Governors Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Loos
Analyst: Brad Kirtley

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