After a three game losing streak, the Governors basketball team wasn’t going to let their hunger-filled quest for a win be hampered by the snowy conditions.
The game against Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville on Thursday, Jan. 21 came down to a three-point and free throw competition between the two teams as each team took their turn hitting a three or knocking down shots at the line.
Along with snapping a three game losing streak by beating the Cougars 90-86, this game marked the 400th win for the OVC all-time wins leader, APSU’s Head Basketball Coach David Loos.
One player of note was sophomore guard Josh Robinson, who had a career-high 39-point performance.
The SIUE Cougars’ Jake Newton had a career-high 22 points which came from seven three-pointers.
Newton went to the line where he missed both free throws after being fouled, which Robinson capitalized on.
Robinson dribbled the floor after grabbing the rebound and hit the game tying three to send the game into overtime.
Newton quickly made his presence known in overtime with his seventh three-pointer of the night to give the Cougars the lead.
From that point on it became a three-point and free throw contest to decide a winner.
The Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week, the Cougars’ Burak Elsik, was fouled during an attempted three and sent to the line where he knocked down all three free throws, leaving him 11-12 for the night.
Before the final whistle, Robinson was fouled one last time. He went to the line and missed his first attempt followed by a made basket on his second attempt. This left him 17-18 for the night.
According to letsgopeay.com, had Robinson been perfect at the line, he would have achieved the first 40-point game since 2008 when Derek Wright scored 43 points against Southeast Missouri.
Despite only hitting six out of 16 shots, Chris Horton was able to add another double-double to his collection, giving him a grand total of 16.
Freshmen Zach Glotta and Chris Porter-Bunton got in on the action as well, both finishing with 10 points.
Although the University was closed on Saturday, Jan. 23., the Governors were still ready to face the Eastern Illinois Panthers and try to capitalize on their momentum going into the game after their win on Thursday, Jan. 21.
The Governors fell short 87-86 for their second overtime game in a row.
Just like the previous game, it came down to three-pointers and free throws.
This time, both teams struggled to get their shots to fall and had to rely on their shots in the paint.
Glotta hit a three towards the end of regulation.
Shortly after, Robinson drove to the basket and was fouled but failed to capitalize, missing both of his shots at the line.
Robinson had a rough night from the floor but was able to get one final layup to fall after driving the lane.
The Panthers’ Trae Anderson went down the floor but while attempting to drive the lane, lost control of the ball and was tipped out with 0.8 seconds on the clock. This left Cornell Johnston to miss a potential game winner and send the game into overtime.
Anderson led the Panthers with 20 points, followed by A.J. Riley who came off the bench and produced an 18 point and seven assist performance.
For nearly every shot the Governors made, Riley was there to respond. The game came down to Robinson hitting two shots from the line with only 5.9 seconds on the clock.
The Panthers inbounded the ball to Riley, who went coast-to-coast and was able to get a shot to fall over Chris Horton under the basket.
The Panthers muscled by with a victory over the Governors, leaving APSU 9-13 overall and 2-5 in the OVC.
Horton picked up his 17th double-double of the season with 22 points and 15 rebounds. He was followed by Robinson, who went 4-18 on the floor but made up for it by going 11-14 at the line giving him 20 points on the night.
The Governors hit the road for five games before returning home Feb. 13 to face the University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks at 7:30 p.m. in the Dunn Center.
