SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Lipscomb 69,
Austin Peay 63
@Middle Tennessee 67,
Tennessee State 45
LIPSCOMB 69, AUSTIN PEAY 63
NASHVILLE - Austin Peay State University's season-long offensive struggles will send the Governors into the Christmas break on negative note.
The Governors converted just 3-of-20 three-point attempts compared to eight by Lipscomb and that was the difference as APSU fell, 69-63, Sunday afternoon, in non-conference basketball action in Allen Arena. The loss snapped the Govs' win streak at two games as they fell to 4-8 overall on the season. The victory clipped Lipscomb's two-game losing streak and improved the Bisons to 5-7 overall. It also allowed Lipscomb to sweep the season series.
And like a broken record, the Governors can point to their shooting woes. In fact, it looked like the Governors began their Christmas break early. With less than 11 minutes left in the first half the Governors had just four points and trailed by as much as 15.
For the sixth time this season the Governors failed to crack the 40 percent mark, shooting just 37.7 percent (20 of 53) from the floor. But it was three-point shooting that literally led to APSU's undoing. APSU failed to connect on a first-half three pointer, going 0-of-9 and were just slightly better in that final half, going 3-of-11. In fact, APSU's third three pointer came in the waning seconds when the game had been decided.
Yet, despite all their offensive woes the Governors scrambled back and tied the game at 51 all with 6:44 left and had more than one opportunity to take the lead or keep it tied. But APSU was unable to convert both from the field and the free-throw line. Although the Governors shot 74.1 percent (20 of 27) from the free-throw line, they made only 4-of-7 free throws over the final 6:44 while Lipscomb went 11-of-11 in the final 4:33.
After being held to six points apiece in last week's meeting, frontcourt player Chris Freeman and Chris Horton both scored in double figures this time. Freeman finished with a double-double, 15 points (six-of-eight shooting) and 11 rebounds while Horton tallied 13 points to go with seven rebounds.
Josh Williams, who had 12 first-half points, finished with a game-high 21 for Lipscomb while Brett Wishon, who had 21 points—all on three pointers—in the previous meeting, again hurt the Governors with 14 points, including four three pointers—two key late second-half bombs help stem APSU's momentum.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 67, TENNESSEE STATE 45
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Tennessee State University men’s basketball team fell 67-45 to Middle Tennessee State University on Sunday at Murphy Center.
The Tigers (2-10) showed strong defensive play against the Blue Raiders (7-5), but ultimately dropped their 41st all-time contest to them. MTSU has now won the last five games between the two teams.
Marcus Roper was the only Tiger to score in double digits, with 10 points. Darreon Reddick added nine points and eight rebounds while Christian Mekowulu had nine points and seven boards.
Jacquez Rozier had 18 points to lead MTSU.
MTSU jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first 5:27 of the game. The Tigers first bucket was a put back dunk by Zachary Lee with 14:24 remaining in the half. MTSU took a 36-23 lead into the locker room.
The Blue Raiders outshot the Tigers 54 percent to 33 percent through the first 20 minutes of play. MTSU drained six more treys than TSU and had a 10-4 advantage in the assist department.
The Tiger defense reined it in for the final 15 minutes of the first half, holding the Blue Raiders to as many points as they scored in the first five minutes of the game, keeping them off the board for the final 3:47.
TSU continued to step up their defensive presence, but was simultaneously held in check on the offensive end. They were able to pull within three possessions with 5:21 to play, but a Blue Raider dunk put them back up by 11, a gap they expanded upon through the final buzzer.
After allowing the Blue Raiders to make 86 percent (6-of-7) from the floor to begin the game, the Tigers held them to just 32 percent the rest of the way.
All total, the defense forced 13 turnovers on seven steals. They rejected four shots and grabbed 25 defensive boards, for the game.
The offense was shut down, though, as they were held to 30.6 percent from the floor.
Ultimately, TSU fell for the ninth straight time heading into Christmas.