CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A quick start by Austin Peay and Jacksonville State's early shooting struggles proved to be the difference in a 73-54 Governors' win on Thursday night at the Dunn Center in Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball action.

The Gamecocks fell to 5-13 overall and suffered their second consecutive OVC setback to drop to 1-2 in the league.  APSU moved to 8-9 overall and level in the conference at 1-1.

The Govs opened the contest on a 20-8 scoring run that covered the first 10:16 of the opening half.  The run was triggered by APSU's Chris Horton, who had three consecutive lay ups to push the lead to the 12-point margin midway through the first half.  APSU extended the lead out to as many as 15 points on multiple occasions with the Govs holding a 35-20 lead with just over a minute left in the half before taking a 40-26 margin in to the halftime break. 

APSU was a sizzling 17-of-29 (58.6 percent) from the field in the opening half, including Horton's perfect 8-for-8 from the field to surpass his season's scoring average of 18 points per game before the break with 19 of his 24 total points. He posted a double-double with 13 rebounds.  Horton was helped by Josh Robinson's 10 points in the first half.  Robinson finished with 13 points in the win.

JSU was just 9-of-29 from the field in the first half and hit 11-of-38 in the second half to finish the game shooting 29 percent.

The Govs extended the lead out to as many as 24 points at 63-39 with 6:44 left in the contest.  APSU maintained its solid shooting effort in the second half with a 50 percent mark.  The Govs concluded the contest shooting 55 percent from the field.

JaQuail Townser led the Gamecocks in scoring with 10 points, followed by Malcom Drumwright's nine points in the loss.  Greg Tucker and Erik Durham posted seven points each.  Christian Cunningham pulled down 10 revounds

The Gamecocks return to action on Saturday, January 9 against the Racers of Murray State.  Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the CFSB Center.