Late First Half Run Dooms Bulldogs in Loss to Austin Peay

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Michael Ashley scored 14 points, and Tyon Thompson recorded a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds, but it was not enough as the Fisk University Bulldogs (1-3) fell to the NCAA Division I Austin Peay State University Governors 79-52 in exhibition action from the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Bulldogs hung tough early, going up 7-5 at the first media break. When play continued, Thompson Fisk's next five points gave his team a 12-9 lead. After falling behind a point at the second break, Jayden Lockett scored the Bulldogs' next four points to get Fisk back on top. Another Lockett basket made it 16-15 with 9:42 left in the half.

Austin Peay scored five points for a 20-16 lead. A Blake Goodman three-point basket cut the APSU lead to 20-19. That's when the Governors went on a run.

"We stopped running our sets and playing defense," said Fisk head coach Kenny Anderson. "That's what we must stop doing, playing well in spurts. We will get it right. At some point, guys will get tired of losing."

The Governors got hot and outscored Fisk 19-2 to finish the half. They shot 4-of-7 from behind the arc during that stretch to take a 39-21 lead at the half. Austin Peay finished the game with their biggest lead at 28 points. The Bulldogs were not able to make the game closer than a 22-point deficit before falling. Goodman added 11 points, with eight coming in the second half.

Fisk took a blow early when their 6-8 center Solomon Mustafa-Reid suffered a lower-body injury. A blow that made it tough for the out-sized Bulldogs to overcome.

 "Solo getting hurt early hurt our rotation on the frontline," said Anderson. "Some guys had to play out of position, but we battled. Ty getting ten rebounds was big. I want to see that every night from him."