Austin Peay Governors men's basketball

Austin Peay Governors
men's basketball
2024–25 Austin Peay Governors basketball team
UniversityAustin Peay State University
Head coachCorey Gipson (2nd season)
ConferenceASUN
LocationClarksville, Tennessee
ArenaF&M Bank Arena
(capacity: 5,500)
NicknameGovernors
ColorsRed and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1961*
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1960*, 1961*, 1973†
NCAA tournament round of 32
1987
NCAA tournament appearances
1958*, 1960*, 1961*, 1963*, 1973†, 1974, 1987, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2016
† vacated by NCAA
*at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
1987, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2016
Conference regular season champions
1973, 1974, 1977, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008

The Austin Peay Governors men's basketball team represents Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. The Governors play in the ASUN Conference starting in 2022–23, following 61 seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament to date was in 2016, making the field of 68 by virtue of having won the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament. The Governors' head coach is Corey Gipson.

The 2022–23 season was not only Peay's first in the ASUN Conference, but also was its last at Winfield Dunn Center. After that season, the Governors moved to the new F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville. The new arena was originally intended to open for the 2022–23 season, but was delayed to July 2023.[2][3]

Historically, the "Governors" nickname applied only to Peay's men's teams; women's teams were known as "Lady Govs". However, since the mid-2010s, all Peay teams have used "Governors".

Rivalries

The Governors' main rival has historically been Murray State University. The two schools are separated by about 65 miles (105 km) and consistently vied for Ohio Valley Conference championships. ESPN The Magazine featured the Austin Peay–Murray State rivalry in a February 2009 issue.[4] However, the two schools are now in separate conferences, with Peay having joined the ASUN and Murray State the Missouri Valley Conference in July 2022.

Year-by-year results

Year Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
1942–43 Fred Brown 9–10
1943–44 WWII n/a
1944–45 WWII n/a
1945–46 Bee Low 2–19
1946–47 David Aaron 23–5
1947–48 David Aaron 16–9
1948–49 David Aaron 17–13
1949–50 David Aaron 14–11
1950–51 David Aaron 13–12
1951–52 David Aaron 11–17
1952–53 David Aaron 14–12
1953–54 David Aaron 14–13
1954–55 David Aaron 7–17
1955–56 David Aaron 16–11
1956–57 David Aaron 24–9
1957–58 David Aaron 17–9
1958–59 David Aaron 17–9
1959–60 David Aaron 22–5
1960–61 David Aaron 22–9 (9–1) VSAC
1961–62 David Aaron 14–12 (8–2) VSAC
1962–63 George Fisher 18–11 (9–1) VSAC
1963–64 George Fisher 14–9 (7–7) OVC
1964–65 George Fisher 4–17 (2–12) OVC
1965–66 George Fisher 7–14 (3–11) OVC
1966–67 George Fisher 14–9 (7–7) OVC
1967–68 George Fisher 8–16 (2–12) OVC
1968–69 George Fisher 10–14 (3–11) OVC
1969–70 George Fisher 5–21 (2–12) OVC
1970–71 George Fisher 10–14 (5–9) OVC
1971–72 Lake Kelly 10–14 (5–9) OVC
1972–73 Lake Kelly 21–5 (11–3) OVC Lost Regional semifinal
1973–74 Lake Kelly 17–10 (10–4) OVC Lost First round
1974–75 Lake Kelly 17–10 (10–4) OVC
1975–76 Lake Kelly 20–7 (10–4) OVC
1976–77 Lake Kelly 24–4 (13–1) OVC
1977–78 Ed Thompson 15–12 (8–6) OVC
1978–79 Ed Thompson 8–18 (3–9) OVC
1979–80 Ron Bargatze 8–18 (2–10) OVC
1980–81 Ron Bargatze 14–13 (7-7) OVC
1981–82 Ron Bargatze 6–20 (4–12) OVC
1982–83 Ron Bargatze 11–16 (4–10) OVC
1983–84 Howard Jackson 11–16 (5–9) OVC
1984–85 Howard Jackson 8–19 (4–10) OVC
1985–86 Lake Kelly 14–14 (8–6) OVC
1986–87 Lake Kelly 20–12 (8–6) OVC Lost Second Round
1987–88 Lake Kelly 17–13 (10–4) OVC
1988–89 Lake Kelly 18–12 (8–4) OVC
1989–90 Lake Kelly 10–19 (2–10) OVC
1990–91 Dave Loos 15–14 (6–6) OVC
1991–92 Dave Loos 11–17 (6–8) OVC
1992–93 Dave Loos 7–20 (4–12) OVC
1993–94 Dave Loos 11–16 (10–6) OVC
1994–95 Dave Loos 13–16 (8–8) OVC
1995–96 Dave Loos 19–11 (10–6) OVC Lost First round
1996–97 Dave Loos 17–14 (12–6) OVC
1997–98 Dave Loos 17–11 (11–7) OVC
1998–99 Dave Loos 11–16 (9–9) OVC
1999-2000 Dave Loos 18–10 (11–7) OVC
2000–01 Dave Loos 22–10 (10–6) OVC
2001–02 Dave Loos 14–18 (8–8) OVC
2002–03 Dave Loos 23–8 (13–3) OVC Lost First round
2003–04 Dave Loos 22–10 6–0) OVC1
2004–05 Dave Loos 13–19 (9–7) OVC
2005-06 Dave Loos 17–14 (11–9) OVC
2006–07 Dave Loos 21–12 (16–4) OVC
2007–08 Dave Loos 24–11 (16–4) OVC Lost First round
2008–09 Dave Loos 19–14 (13–5) OVC Lost CIT Quarterfinals
2009–10 Dave Loos 17–15 (11–7) OVC
2010–11 Dave Loos 20–14 (13–5) OVC
2011-12 Dave Loos 12–20 (8–8) OVC
2012–13 Dave Loos 8–23 (4–12) OVC
2013–14 Dave Loos 12–18 (6–10) OVC
2014–15 Dave Loos 8–22 (3–13) OVC
2015–16 Dave Loos 18–18 (7–9) OVC Lost First round
2016–17 Dave Loos 11–19 (7–9) OVC
2017–18 Matt Figger 19–15 (12–6) OVC Lost CIT Quarterfinals
2018–19 Matt Figger 22–10 (13–5) OVC
2019–20 Matt Figger 21–12 (14–4) OVC
2020–21 Matt Figger 14–13 (10–10) OVC
2021–22 Nate James 12–17 (8–10) OVC
2022–23 Nate James 9–22 (3–15) ASUN
2023–24 Corey Gipson 19-16 (10–6) ASUN Lost CIT Quarterfinals
2024–25 Corey Gipson 3-2 (0-0) ASUN

Postseason

NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Governors have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament seven times. Their combined record is 2–8.

Year Round Opponent Result
1973 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Mideast Regional third place		 Jacksonville
Kentucky
Marquette		 W 77–75
L 100–106 OT
L 73–88
1974 Regional Quarterfinals Notre Dame L 66–108
1987 First round
Second Round		 Illinois
Providence		 W 68–67
L 87–90 OT
1996 First round Georgia Tech L 79–90
2003 First round Louisville L 64–86
2008 First round Texas L 54–74
2016 First round Kansas L 79–105

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Governors have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament four times. Their combined record is 3–6.

Year Round Opponent Result
1958 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 Akron
Wabash		 L 61–76
L 69–72
1960 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		 Belmont Abbey
Kentucky Wesleyan		 W 74–63
L 69–83
1961 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight		 Chattanooga
Belmont Abbey
Mount St. Mary's		 W 77–69
W 70–63
L 78–96
1963 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 Tennessee State
Bellarmine		 L 94–119
L 86–96

NIT results

The Governors have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times. Their combined record is 1–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2004 Opening Round
First round		 Belmont
George Mason		 W 66–60
L 100–106
2007 First round Air Force L 51–75

CBI results

The Governors have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2011 First round Boise State L 80–83

CIT results

The Governors have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) two times. Their combined record is 1–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2009 First round Bradley L 74–81
2018 First round
Quarterfinals		 Louisiana–Monroe
UIC		 W 80–66
L 81–83
2024 Quarterfinals Alabama A&M L 71–81

Notable players

Retired numbers

Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers
Austin Peay Governors retired numbers
No. Player Pos. Career No. ret. Ref.
10 Tom Morgan F 1974–1978 1999 [5]
13 Bubba Wells F 1993–1997 1998 [5]
21 Terry Taylor F 2017–2021 2023 [5]
30 Howie Wright G 1967–1970 1992 [5]
35 Fly Williams G 1972–1974 2009 [5]
44 Trenton Hassell F 1997–2001 2002 [5]

Retired jerseys

No. Player Tenure Pos. Jer. ret. Ref.
45 L.M. Ellis [n 1] F 1962–1965 2022 [7][8]
420 Dave Loos [n 2] Head coach 1990-2017 2022 [8]
Notes
  1. ^ Ellis was the first black basketball player to play at Austin Peay.[6]
  2. ^ Number retired for his 420 Victories as head coach.

Professional international players

References

  1. ^ "APSU Governors Brand Identity" (PDF). May 30, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Chris (July 29, 2021). "Downtown Clarksville event center name announced: F&M Bank Arena". Clarksville, TN: WNZE. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Miller, Kaitlin (May 13, 2022). "New F&M Bank Arena in Montgomery Co. expected to bring a lot of economic growth to area". Nashville, TN: WZTV. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "College basketball's lesser-known rivalries". 28 January 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Austin Peay announces the jersey retirement of 10 Austin Peay greats". letsgopeay.com. August 25, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Hall of Fame: L.M. ELLIS at Austin Peay website
  7. ^ Austin Peay's L.M. Ellis, first Black basketball player to sign with OVC school, dies at 79 by George Robinson at Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, 3 Jun 2022
  8. ^ a b L.M. Ellis, Gerlonda Hardin-Fite and Dave Loos to have jerseys retired, Saturday at letsgopeay.com, 8 Feb 2022
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