APSU encouraged by play against Memphis; Evansville 2-0 vs. OVC
It's not supposed to be this way after a 25-point loss, but Austin Peay is still feeling pretty good about its 88-63 loss to No. 19 Memphis.
And that might not bode well for Evansville in tonight's nonconference game at the Dunn Center at 7 p.m.
"Our confidence level was built up after playing Memphis," junior forward Fernandez Lockett said. "We played the 19th-ranked team, and if we stopped all the transition baskets and easy layups in the first half, we would have had a dogfight. Evansville is a good basketball team, and they'll be ready for us. We just have to carry on from one game to the next."
Memphis blitzed Austin Peay (3-5, 2-1 OVC) and jumped out to a 22-2 lead that turned into a 47-25 advantage at halftime Thursday, thanks mainly to the Tigers' 18-4 edge in fast break points and a 21-9 margin in points off turnovers.
But the Govs were outscored only 41-38 in the second half. Memphis' fast break points went down to seven, and Austin Peay actually had the edge in points off turnovers, winning that 18-9.
Not playing well in the first 20 minutes has plagued Austin Peay all season.
The Govs have been outscored 299-243 in the first half and just 285-268 in the second half.
"We always seem like, especially this year, like we always play better in the second half than we played in the first half," junior guard Derek Wright said.
"We always play with a lot more intensity in the second half. But we've got to carry that over to the first half and play better."
Evansville (7-3, 1-0 Missouri Valley) comes in on a three-game winning streak and has won seven of its last eight.
If the Purple Aces were in the Ohio Valley Conference, they'd have a perfect 2-0 record thanks to wins over at home over Southeast Missouri (65-45) and at Tennessee-Martin (75-57).
Evansville is led by Matt Webster, who's scoring 18.4 points and 5.8 rebounds a game, Bradley Strickland (10.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Kyle Ansliger (10.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg).
Austin Peay has watched Wright score in double figures in his last four games, including leading with a team-high 18 against Memphis.
Drake Reed still leads the Govs in scoring with 14.1 points a game, and Landon Shipley, who had his double-digit streak stopped at five against Memphis, adds 11.4 points.
Lockett is Austin Peay's top rebounder with 6.6 a game, and Reed pulls down 5.6.
The Govs are shooting 40.8 percent from the floor, while Evansville is hitting 42.7.
"We play better at home," Reed said. "Hopefully, we can get these next two at home before conference."
It's not supposed to be this way after a 25-point loss, but Austin Peay is still feeling pretty good about its 88-63 loss to No. 19 Memphis.
And that might not bode well for Evansville in tonight's nonconference game at the Dunn Center at 7 p.m.
"Our confidence level was built up after playing Memphis," junior forward Fernandez Lockett said. "We played the 19th-ranked team, and if we stopped all the transition baskets and easy layups in the first half, we would have had a dogfight. Evansville is a good basketball team, and they'll be ready for us. We just have to carry on from one game to the next."
Memphis blitzed Austin Peay (3-5, 2-1 OVC) and jumped out to a 22-2 lead that turned into a 47-25 advantage at halftime Thursday, thanks mainly to the Tigers' 18-4 edge in fast break points and a 21-9 margin in points off turnovers.
But the Govs were outscored only 41-38 in the second half. Memphis' fast break points went down to seven, and Austin Peay actually had the edge in points off turnovers, winning that 18-9.
Not playing well in the first 20 minutes has plagued Austin Peay all season.
The Govs have been outscored 299-243 in the first half and just 285-268 in the second half.
"We always seem like, especially this year, like we always play better in the second half than we played in the first half," junior guard Derek Wright said.
"We always play with a lot more intensity in the second half. But we've got to carry that over to the first half and play better."
Evansville (7-3, 1-0 Missouri Valley) comes in on a three-game winning streak and has won seven of its last eight.
If the Purple Aces were in the Ohio Valley Conference, they'd have a perfect 2-0 record thanks to wins over at home over Southeast Missouri (65-45) and at Tennessee-Martin (75-57).
Evansville is led by Matt Webster, who's scoring 18.4 points and 5.8 rebounds a game, Bradley Strickland (10.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Kyle Ansliger (10.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg).
Austin Peay has watched Wright score in double figures in his last four games, including leading with a team-high 18 against Memphis.
Drake Reed still leads the Govs in scoring with 14.1 points a game, and Landon Shipley, who had his double-digit streak stopped at five against Memphis, adds 11.4 points.
Lockett is Austin Peay's top rebounder with 6.6 a game, and Reed pulls down 5.6.
The Govs are shooting 40.8 percent from the floor, while Evansville is hitting 42.7.
"We play better at home," Reed said. "Hopefully, we can get these next two at home before conference."
