CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team shot 65 percent from the field in winning, 80-75, over Central Missouri, Thursday night in exhibition action at the Dunn Center.

Senior preseason All-OVC selection Drake Reed led the Govs with 14 points, hitting 7-of-11 from the field and grabbing a team-best six rebounds. Junior guard Wes Channels finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Despite not making a three-point field goal for the first time since Feb. 18, 2002 against Morehead State, the Govs youthful backcourt was led by sophomore guard Caleb Brown’s 13 points, including 9-of-16 from the free-throw line, and freshman guard Tyrone Caldwell’s 10 points – on 3-of-4 field shooting and 4-of-5 FT – along with a team-best four assists.

Austin Peay trailed, 36-35, at the half as Central Missouri hit 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) from the field, including 5-of-10 three pointers. The Govs, meanwhile, managed 9-of-11 from the free-throw line in the first half, which kept them in the game.

Trailing 51-44 with 12:49 to play in the second half, Caldwell hit a pair of free-throws that halted a 6-0 Central Missouri run. A pair of jumpers by redshirt-freshman Marcel Williams, and free-throw by Channels began to close the gap. Freshman Anthony Campbell’s layup at 8:03 made it 56-55, Mules, but Caldwell converted on a conventional three-point play to put the Govs ahead, 58-56, with 7:26 to play. During that stretch, Caldwell had five points, two assists and a steal.

The Govs spent much of the second half at the free-throw line, hitting an anemic 19-of-36. However, a stellar field shooting performance, 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) made all the difference.

Joe Young led the Mules with 23 points, with De’Andre Byrd and Sanijay Watts joining him in double-figures with 15 and 13, respectively. Central Missouri forced the Govs into 17 turnovers, converting them into 24 points. 

-AP-