CLARKSVILLE— Just two unbeatens remain in league play entering the weekend, and one is Austin Peay State University men's basketball team, which takes this unbeaten streak into one of the league's toughest environments when the Govs square off against Jacksonville State, 4 p.m., Saturday.
While Austin Peay was dispatching Tennessee Tech on Thursday, Jacksonville State was giving the other remaining unbeaten Murray State in a 62-58 affair at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Ray Harper's squad, known for its stingy defending, will look to hold the Govs below the 80-point barrier Austin Peay has needed to reach in order to win all but two of its contests this season.
This represents the halfway point of Austin Peay's four-game road sojourn. The Govs hit the road next week to take on Southeast Missouri and UT Martin, a rematch of the opening weekend of league play.
Scouting the Gamecocks
The Gamecocks will put it up from deep. Jacksonville State ranks among the nation's top-100 in three-pointers per game (8.5, 73rd), three-point percentage (36.0, 69th), total attempts (378, 94th) and total makes (136, 63rd). Jacksonville State is also stingy on the other end at the perimeter, limiting opponents to 29.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
For Austin Peay, one of the keys will be winning the rebounding battle. Jacksonville State rebounds just as well as the Govs, boasting a robust plus-4.1 rebounding margin. Where the Govs lean heavily on Terry Taylor and Eli Abaev (16.0 of Austin Peay's 34.4 rebounds per game, 46.5 percent), seven Gamecocks are averaging 2.9 rebounds per night, easing the burden on De'Torrion Ware and Jacarra Cross.
Cross and Ware are the only two Gamecocks scoring in double figures, but myriad Jacksonville State players have taken the mantle as primary scorer this season. Seven Gamecocks average at least 7.0 points per game and seven different players have led them in scoring in different games, which doesn't allow opponents to key on any one player.
Last Time Out Against Jacksonville State
In one of 2018-19's most electrifying games, Austin Peay built a massive early lead on the road, saw Jacksonville State claw back to take the lead with 39 seconds to play and Jabari McGhee hit the season's most clutch bucket, cutting to the hoop, drawing the foul and converting the and-one in a raucous 74-71 at Pete Mathews Coliseum. McGhee and Steve Harris scored 13 points apiece to buffet another monstrous effort from Terry Taylor–30 points and six rebounds.
Keep An Eye On…
- A win would give the Govs four straight against the Gamecocks, their longest streak since winning 11 straight from 2007-12.
- The Govs are outscoring opponents 17.0-7.3 in second-chance points over the last three games.
- Since league play began, Taylor is posting 27.0 points on 58.2 percent (32-for-55) from the floor and 85.7 percent (12-for-14) at the free-throw line, with 11.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
- The Govs are hitting 74.4 percent (32-for-43) at the line the last three games.
- Taylor is one of 13 active Division I players with 1500 career points and 700 career rebounds, and the only member of that club who has yet to finish his junior season.
- Austin Peay is 8-0 when outshooting its opponent in 2019-20 and is now hitting 52.4 percent from the floor in victories this season.
- Since the start of 2010-11, the Govs are 76-23 when holding opponents below 70 points, including a 29-1 mark under head coach Matt Figger.
- Freshman Jordyn Adams is averaging 20.5 points on 55.6 percent (45-for-81) shooting over the last six games, with 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
- Milestone Watch: Taylor needs 14 rebounds to pass Josh Lewis for ninth in program history.
They Said It
Tickets, please
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. You can also purchase tickets online at www.LetsGoPeay.com/buytickets; be sure to access the new 360-degree view of the Dunn Center when purchasing tickets.
Govs Online
Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay's Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all Governor athletics, as well as the 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. ESPN Clarksville (104.1 FM/540 AM) will carry the radio broadcast locally and online.
