
Lipscomb
(+3)

Austin Peay
(-3)
Highlights
Extended Summary
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) ā In a game defined by a second-half offensive explosion, the Austin Peay Governors avenged a loss from just over two weeks prior by overpowering the Lipscomb Bisons 87-76 in an ASUN Conference menās basketball showdown Wednesday night at a raucous Winfield Dunn Center. A crowd of 3,397 watched as the Governors, led by a spectacular 30-point performance from Collin Parker, erased a halftime deficit with a blistering 52-point second half to pull away for a decisive victory. The win improved Austin Peay to 16-6 overall, while Lipscomb fell to 15-9. The first half was a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair that saw Lipscomb take a narrow 38-35 lead into the break. The Bisons were efficient, shooting 50% from the floor, and got balanced scoring from Grant Asman and Mateo Esmeraldo. Austin Peay, meanwhile, relied heavily on Parker, who scored 15 in the opening period, but the rest of the lineup struggled to find a consistent rhythm against a active Lipscomb defense. The complexion of the game changed dramatically after halftime. The Governors emerged from the locker room with heightened intensity and surgical offensive execution. They opened the second half on a 13-5 run, fueled by a trio of three-pointers from Anton Brookshire and Zyree Collins, to seize a lead they would never relinquish. The most important part of the game was Austin Peayās transformative offensive efficiency in the final 20 minutes. After scoring 35 points on 48% shooting in the first half, the Governors exploded for 52 points on a scorching 68% shooting from the field in the second. They dissected the Lipscomb defense with precision, hitting 6 of 9 three-point attempts after halftime and committing only four turnovers. This surge turned a three-point deficit into a lead that ballooned to as many as 17 points, effectively silencing Lipscombās early momentum. Lipscomb had no answer for the Governorsā offensive firepower. While the Bisons also scored 38 points in the second half, they could not keep pace with Austin Peayās torrid shooting. The Governors finished the game shooting 59.6% from the field and an exceptional 60% from beyond the arc. Lipscomb, by contrast, shot 49.2% overall but a chilly 29.2% from three-point range. Collin Parker, a 6-foot-8 forward from Montgomery City, Missouri, was the catalyst for Austin Peay. He played 35 minutes, scoring his 30 points on an efficient 13-of-21 shooting and adding six assists. His performance continued a dominant stretch, following up a 30-point outing against West Georgia just days earlier. He received ample support from backcourt mate Anton Brookshire, who poured in 25 points, and forward Rashaud Marshall, who added 19 points, two blocks, and several key defensive plays. For Lipscomb, Grant Asman led the way with 19 points, while Mateo Esmeraldo contributed 15 points and four assists. Ross Candelino added 14 points. The Bisons won the rebounding battle, particularly on the offensive glass with a 6-2 advantage, but were undone by Austin Peayās superior ball movement and shot-making. The Governors tallied 10 assists to Lipscombās seven and also recorded 10 steals, converting those into crucial transition opportunities. The victory allowed Austin Peay to split the season series with Lipscomb, after dropping an 82-78 decision in Nashville on Jan. 17. It also marked a significant rebound from a statistical perspective, as the Governorsā offensive rating of 120.6 points per 100 possessions far outpaced Lipscombās 105.9, highlighting the efficiency of their second-half onslaught. Austin Peay will look to carry this momentum into a home matchup against North Alabama on Saturday. Lipscomb aims to regroup when it hosts Central Arkansas, also on Saturday.