CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team held a 10-point lead midway in the second half, but OVC regular season champion Austin Peay rallied for a 77-68 victory Thursday night in the Dunn Center. With the win, the Governors (19-9, 16-3 OVC) complete the regular season sweep over the Colonels (17-11, 12-7).

Sophomore Mike Rose (21 points) paced EKU with his ninth 20-point performance of the season thanks to shooting 75 percent (8-of-12) from the floor. The guard also recorded a career-high six assists. Freshman Adam Leonard chipped in with 17 points.

For Austin Peay, Wes Channels led all players with 22 points and eight rebounds. Three other Governors tallied double figures as APSU shot 50 percent for the game.

Rose tallied 16 of his 21 points in the opening 20 minutes helping the Colonels take a 40-35 lead into intermission. The two teams combined to hit 14 three-pointers in the first half with Rose and Austin Peay's Landon Shipley each recording three trifectas.

Buckets on three consecutive possessions, capped by a Julian Mascoll lay-in gave Eastern its largest advantage of the contest, 52-42. From there, the Colonels would go the next seven minutes without connecting on a field goal. Austin Peay went on a 21-5 run during that stretch and netted a trio of three-pointers to regain the lead, 63-57.

The Governors stretched their cushion to eight on two occasions before Eastern Kentucky made one final charge. Rose's fourth three-pointer of the evening cut the Colonel deficit to one point, 69-68, with 1:27 remaining. However, Austin Peay converted all its free throws down the stretch to hold off Eastern.

Even with the loss, Eastern Kentucky will host an opening round OVC Tournament game next Tuesday night thanks to a Samford loss to Southeast Missouri this evening. The Colonels can finish anywhere from second to fourth in the final conference standings.

The Colonels conclude the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Tennessee State. Game time is slated for 8:30 p.m.