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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team connected on a season-high 13 three-pointers, but it wasn't enough as host Austin Peay earned a 75-67 victory Saturday night in Dave Aaron Arena. With the win, the Governors (6-6, 3-0 OVC) stay perfect in conference action and hand the Colonels (6-6, 3-1) their first league loss of the year.
Four Colonels finished in double figures, led by sophomore
Adam Leonard's 20 points, which were two shy of his career high. Senior
Darnell Dialls (14 points, 11 rebounds) recorded his second double-double of the year while sophomore
Josh Taylor chipped in with a personal-best 17 points.
For Austin Peay, Drake Reed and Todd Babington each tallied 18 points. The Governors shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the floor and forced 19 Colonel turnovers.
Eastern Kentucky netted 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) three-pointers in the first half to hang around with Austin Peay. The Governors built a nine-point cushion midway through the half only to see a Taylor three-pointer right before intermission cut the APSU lead to three points, 39-36.
A steal and breakaway lay-up by junior
Mike Rose helped the Colonels stay within three points, 49-46, five minutes into the second half. However, Austin Peay responded with a 10-2 run, capped by one of Babington's four three-pointers, to stretch its lead to 11 points, 59-48.
Eastern Kentucky made one final charge to get within five points, 62-57, following Taylor's fifth three-pointer. The Colonels threatened to pull within two on their next possession with 5:30 remaining, but Leonard's open three-point attempt just missed. Austin Peay then made nine free throws in the final five minutes to hold off Eastern Kentucky.
Austin Peay has now defeated the Colonels 13 times in the last 14 meetings in Clarksville dating back to 1995-96. Eastern Kentucky was shooting for its first 4-0 start in OVC action since 1978-79.
The Colonels have the rest of the calendar year off to celebrate the holiday season. Eastern Kentucky returns to action on Jan. 2 at Southeast Missouri.
