Balanced Austin Peay looks for an edge against Indians

A different type of Austin Peay basketball team will greet Southeast Missouri State University today when the squads square off in a key Ohio Valley Conference matchup.

Southeast (7-10, 2-3 OVC) and Austin Peay (9-6, 2-2) are one of seven squads in a logjam for the second through eighth spots in the nine-team conference. Only two games separate the teams between first-place Morehead State (7-0) and last-place Tennessee State (0-4).

"You win a game and you might be in third or fourth place. You lose a game and you might be in eighth place," Southeast coach Gary Garner said.

The 1 p.m. game in Clarksville, Tenn., will be regionally televised by Fox Sports South on Channel 351 -- part of Charter Communications' digital package -- in Cape Girardeau.

The Governors have a different personality this year after standout guard Nick Stapleton completed his eligibility. He was the OVC's third-leading scorer last season with nearly 23 points per game.

Prior to last year, the Govs were led by not only Stapleton but by Trenton Hassell, one of the nation's leading scorers and top all-around players who starts for the Chicago Bulls. And before Hassell, the Govs featured high-scoring Bubba Wells, who, like Hassell, was an NBA draft pick.

"They're a much different team now than they have been as far as not having the one big scorer," Garner said.

Balance is the word to best describe the Govs, said coach Dave Loos.

"I think our strength has been our balance," Loos said. "We don't have any one guy that stands out. We're a much different team than we've been in the past. We've had Stapleton, Hassell, Wells. We don't have that kind of guy this year."

That doesn't mean the Govs, who defeated the Indians in both meetings last year, will be any less difficult for Southeast to beat.

"They are more athletic than us and they are a very good defensive team," Garner said. "A big key will be how well we're able to take care of the basketball while running our offense well enough to get good shots."

Running their offense has not been a problem for the Indians in recent games. Southeast has shot at least 48 percent in each of its past three contests while taking care of the ball well.

But suspect defense has caused the Indians to win just one of those three games. Southeast allowed 48-percent shooting in an overtime loss to Tennessee-Martin, 54-percent shooting in a win over Murray State and 60-percent shooting -- including 73 percent in the second half -- during a non-league loss at Western Illinois.

"We have to improve defensively," Garner said. "We're scoring enough points and we're really playing well offensively. But we're giving up way too many points and way too many easy baskets, which has been holding us back."

Southeast's offense -- which features five double-figure scorers and has been led lately by the direction of point guard Kevin Roberts, who has 22 assists and just one turnover in the past two games -- concerns Loos.

"I know Gary's team has some guys that can really shoot the ball," Loos said. "We have to have a hand up on their shots, and the big thing for us is that we only give up one shot. We're not a great rebounding team, but I think we're a pretty good defensive team."

Adrian Henning, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, leads the Govs offensively with 15.5 points per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range (12 of 33).

Also averaging in double figures for the Govs are 6-8 junior center Josh Lewis (11.9 ppg) and 6-2 sophomore guard Anthony Davis (11.5 ppg), while 6-5 junior forward Rhet Wierzba (9.8 ppg) and 6-1 junior point guard Corey Gipson (9.1 ppg) aren't far off.

Lewis leads the Govs in rebounding with 6.7 per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor, Wierzba is one of the OVC's top 3-point threats at 43.7 percent (31 of 71) and Gipson is also dangerous from long range at 36 percent (32 of 89).

Gipson, who started his high school career at Scott County Central before transferring to Richland, played at Three Rivers Community College the past two years. He leads the Govs in assists with 43 and has been a clutch shooter; his 3-pointer with less than a second left lifted the Govs to an upset at Murray State.

"Corey has been playing fantastic," Loos said. "He's showing great leadership, and he has hit some very big shots."

The Govs figure to have momentum on their side after an 87-80 overtime win over Eastern Illinois Thursday. Austin Peay rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 40 seconds of regulation.

"The script just worked out well for us that night," Loos said. "But I know we'll have our hands full against Southeast Missouri."

Second-leading scorer Damarcus Hence and Demetrius King, the OVC's top 3-point shooter at 43.8 percent, both should be back at just about full strength today for the Indians.

Hence played just eight minutes Tuesday at Western Illinois because of an intestinal problem. King played only 12 minutes because of a knee injury. Both failed to score.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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