Austin Peay (3-4, 0-0) vs. North Florida (6-4, 0-0)
Saturday, December 7th, 2019 | 4:00pm CT
Clarksville, TN | Dunn Center
Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) men’s basketball team will host North Florida in a 4:00pm, Saturday, contest in the penultimate home non-conference contest.
One of the nation’s most prolific three-point shooting teams, North Florida comes in with quality home victories against Southern Miss and High Point but without a true road victory since last season.
The Ospreys also lost to another Ohio Valley Conference foe, Tennessee State, at the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational, November 29th.
Saturday is also Austin Peay State University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Help-An-Elf Night. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the contest and receive free admission.
About the North Florida Ospreys
North Florida will live and die by the three-point line. The Ospreys lead the nation in three-pointers made and attempted, and this all-in assault from beyond the arc leads to predictable, if not predictive, results. When the threes are going in, the Ospreys win–North Florida is averaging 14.3 three-pointers on 41.1 percent from deep in its six wins and 10.3 three-pointers on 33.6 percent in its four losses. Guarding the three-ball will be a key against North Florida.
With just one player standing 6-8 or taller, North Florida is susceptible inside, averaging just 2.7 blocks per game. And while they defend the arc well, the Ospreys are allowing 50.8 percent shooting from the floor on two-pointers, meaning Eli Abaev, Terry Taylor and the Governor bigs will need room to maneuver down low.
Last Time Against North Florida
Despite 28 points and 17 rebounds from Chris Horton, Austin Peay State University dropped an 80-70 contest to the Ospreys, December 16th, 2015, in the Dunn Center. While Horton hit 13-of-19 shot attempts from the floor, the rest of the Govs combined for just 30 percent (16-of-53) from the field.
A North Florida outfit who was leading the nation in three-pointers–much like this year’s Ospreys–hit just 4-of-19 from deep in that outing.
Keep An Eye On
A victory would be the first by the home team in this series.
Austin Peay State University’s Eli Abaev and North Florida’s Ezekiel Balgoun were teammates at Eastern Florida State College, helping the Titans to a third-place finish at the 2018 NJCAA National Championship.
Austin Peay State University’s loss to Arkansas was a rarity under Figger and at large–a defeat when surrendering fewer than 70 points. It snapped a streak of 20 straight wins when holding an opponent below 70 points and dropped the APSU Govs to 24-1 under Figger when surrendering fewer than 70 points. Since the start of 2010-11, the Govs are 72-23 when holding opponents below 70 points.
Taylor is averaging 27.3 points on 67.3 percent shooting, with 10.0 rebounds over the last three games.
A win would make the APSU Govs 4-0 to start the home schedule in back to back seasons for the first time since 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Milestone Watch
Taylor needs 13 shot attempts to pass Maurice Hampton for 19th all-time. Four made free-throws would move him into the top-30, and 16 rebounds would move him into 12 all-time, past Adrian Henning. He still needs one blocked shot to take sole possession of 10th place in program history.
Tickets
APSU Governors Courtside Seating returns for the 2019-20 season. Fans can contact the APSU Athletics Ticket Office for courtside seating availability and pricing. The VIPeay Hoops Experience, available to Black Tie Monocle Society members and above, also returns for 2019-20 after a successful debut last season.
For more information on joining the Governors in the Dunn Center this winter, to secure season tickets or to become involved with the Monocle Society, call 931.221.PEAY.
APSU Govs Online
Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay State University’s Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all Governor athletics, as well as the APSU Governor men’s basketball Twitter page (@AustinPeayMBB). Live stats will be available during the game at PeayStats.com, and all home games and Ohio Valley Conference games can be viewed on the ESPN+ app.
