APSU Governors Basketball lose Saturday night to Murray State Racers, 82-72

February 7, 2015 |

Austin Peay Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Murray State remained undefeated in Ohio Valley Conference play and ran its winning streak to 19 games as it held off a couple Austin Peay State University second-half surges to claim an 82-72 victory, Saturday night, in Dave Aaron Arena.

Austin Peay’s Khalil Davis scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in loss to Murray State. (APSU Sports Information)

Just as importantly the duo combined for 19 of 21 at the free-throw line, 13 of those free throws coming in the second half.

The Governors, now 7-17 overall and 2-8 on the OVC, have lost four straight but another poor shooting performance, both from the field and the free-throw line, again led to the Govs undoing. They were just 16-of-31 (52 percent) at the free-throw line—the third straight game shooting less than 70 percent from the line.

The Govs also shot only 38.8 percent from the floor, finishing the first half 1-of-6 from the floor over the final four minutes as the Racers ended the half on a 9-0 run to take a 42-26 margin into intermission.

That lead advanced to 21 points barely four minutes into the second half before the Govs clawed its way with a 15-2 run to climb back within a 56-50 margin.  The Govs comeback was sparked by junior Khalil Davis and freshman guard Josh Robinson, who each had four points during the five-minute stretch.

But the All-American candidate Payne responded with a conventional three-point play, getting into the lane to hit a short jumper and was fouled. Jarvis Williams then hit back-to-back buckets, the second on a pass from Payne, and the lead was back to 13, 63-50, with 7:07 left.

APSU continued to battle and trimmed the advantage to seven, 71-63, after Freeman scored on a dunk and then Robinson collected a steal before subsequently knocking down a jumper with 2:40 left.

But Wayne Langston hit a layup and the Govs’ Chris Freeman missed one as the Racer increased their lead to double-digits. It was a deficit the Governors could not overcome in the final two minutes.

Davis bounced back from a subpar outing against UT Martin to score 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds—it was his season’s second double-double while the 23 points was the third time he eclipsed the 20-point mark this season.

Chris Horton also tallied a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds—but the Govs’ center made just 6-of-17 shots. Robinson added 13 points, helping the Govs with both late-game charges.

The Govs out-rebounded Murray State 47-37, but could turn 20 offensive grabs into just 16 second-chance points.

The Racers finished the night 25 of 52 (48 percent) from the floor while making 27 of 36 (75 percent) at the free-throw line.

Video – Coach Dave Loos

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