The Austin Peay Governors and the North Alabama Lions meet Thursday in college basketball action from Flowers Hall. Austin Peay stands at 8-17 overall following a loss to Queens NC on Saturday. As for North Alabama, they’re 14-11 on the season. The Lions beat Florida Gulf Coast in their last game. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Austin Peay Governors
Austin Peay managed a sketchy 7-9 run over their first 16 games this year. Things haven’t gotten any better since then with a 1-8 stretch. The Governors have fallen to Eastern Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, Liberty and Queens NC in their last five outings.
matched up against Queens NC on Saturday, the Governors held a 33-26 edge at the break. Austin Peay was outscored 44-36 in the second half and lost 70-69. Tops in scoring was Elijah Hutchins-Everett with 23 points and eight rebounds.
North Alabama Lions
Over on the North Alabama side, they started the season on a tepid 9-7 run through their first 16 outings. The Lions are 5-4 since then with wins over Central Arkansas (twice), Jacksonville, North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast.
In the Florida Gulf Coast matchup on Saturday, the Lions scored 33 points in the first half, 40 in the second and 14 in overtime for a tense 87-85 win. Daniel Ortiz put up 19 points, and Jacari Lane added 18 points with six rebounds and six assists.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stick with North Alabama. The Lions did a good job in a comeback overtime win over Florida Gulf Coast in their last game; six different players had at least eight points in that one. North Alabama is now 5-1 in their last six outings with a lone loss to Stetson in that time. As for Austin Peay, they’re flailing right now on an eight-game losing streak. The Governors have scored fewer than 60 points in four of their last six games as well. If Austin Peay doesn’t play great basketball I don’t think they’ll keep the pace in this one.