Austin Peay Basketball Governors set to open exhibition season against Division II power Central Missouri

APSU Sports Information: APSU Basketball
Loos vs. Loos — Govs to face Mules in exhibition opener

Clarksville, TN – It has become something of a tradition. Austin Peay and Central Missouri…APSU head coach Dave Loos vs. son Brad Loos, aassociate head coach for the Mules.

Last season, the Governors held on to defeat the Mules, 69-64, after the Division II power defeated APSU the previous season.

Central Missouri is coming off an uncharacteristic 18-11 campaign and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. They have reloaded with junior college talent and are picked to finish second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).

The rebuilding started inside.with a trio of big bodies who weigh at least 240 pounds, led by 6-8, 250-pound Will Kirksey, who was ranked as the 13th-best juco player in the country a year ago.

In the backcourt, Boo Hunter (14.6 ppg) returns but he has plenty of help as juco transfer Widgett Washington, a Top 30 juco recruit, and Yavario Smith, who transfered from Roane State, will bolster the attack.

Meanwhile, the Governors are coming off a 20-14 season that has seen them picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference. The Govs are expected to be led by senior guard TyShwan Edmondson, a first-team All-OVC pick a year ago.

Also back is senior forward Josh Terry (11.0 ppg), 6-8 senior center John Fraley (9.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and 6-5 sophomore forward Will Triggs ( 6.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Behind them are 6-6 forward Melvin Baker (7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg), who started much of the season ahead of Triggs, and 6-3 junior guard Justin Blake (5.1 ppg). In addition, 6-7 redshirt junior forward Anthony Campbell, a second-team All-OVC pick two years ago, is back after injuring his knee a year ago.

Governors Pardon

• This is Austin Peay’s 80th season of basketball.
• Dave Loos, APSU’s all-time winningest basketball coach, also is the OVC’s all-time wins leader with 351 victories. He also has 433 career coaching wins.
• The Dave Aaron Arena playing floor was named Dave Loos Court, Summer 2007. Loos is believed to be one of only four current Division I men’s coaches who are coaching on courts that bear their respective names–Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim and Valparaiso’s Homer Drew, who just had that honor bestowed on him last fall–are the other three.
• Since 1993-94, Austin Peay has finished no worse than fifth in the OVC standings.
• Austin Peay has reached at least the OVC tournament semifinals in 13 of the last 17 years.
• Austin Peay has made 27 straight appearances in the OVC tournament.