Tigers' season ends in overtime
Alexander: We fought hard
LaVonte Young
Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 8 seeded Tennessee State Tigers fell to the top seeded Austin Peay Governors 89-84 in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
The loss makes it four straight seasons that the TSU men's basketball team has been ousted in the opening night of the tournament.
A controversial call came in overtime when TSU guard Moraye Ivy hit what seemed to be the game-tying three pointer with 5 seconds
remaining in the extra period, but the officials overturned the call and called it a two-pointer.
A three point field goal would have tied the game at 85, but instead the Tigers were left clawing for one more point down 85-84 with 5 seconds left in overtime.
APSU made two free throws afterwards and a turnover by Tigers' forward Courtney "C-Bo" Bohannon led to the Governors shooting and making two more foul shots.
"I thought it was three pointer," Ivy said.
TSU head coach Cy Alexander said, "One official said he was a was behind the line and the other official said he was on the line. I asked the official to review it, but they said they could not review." In the first half, Big Blue was down by as many as 15 points in the first half, but an 5-0 run by Tiger guard Andre Belton cut the score down to 35 - 27 at halftime.
Arguably playing their best basketball of the season in the second half, the Tigers outscored Austin Peay 42-38, which included
back-to-back three pointers from Belton and guard Ladarious Weaver that tied the score at 55-55.
The game stayed close the rest of the second half.
After a Tigers' stop on defense, Belton hit a mid-range jumper to give the Tigers a 69-67 lead with 55 seconds left. Austin Peay would answer right back with a Fernandez Lockett jumper to knot it up at 69. The Tigers had a chance to take the lead, but junior guard Reiley Ervin missed a three-pointer at the end of regulation.
In the second half, the Tigers shot 58 percent from the field including going 7 of 14 from behind the arc.
"We fought hard," Alexander said. "That is the story of our season."
Ervin gave Big Blue a big boost as he scored 24 points and had six assists.
"I am proud of the way he played," Alexander said. "I told him that him that I wasn't going to take him out (of the game) tonight and he gave a great effort."
Tigers question close calls
The Governors shot 33 of 43 from the free throw line, 14 of which were made in overtime.
"I feel we played good basketball tonight," Ervin said. "But, we did not get the calls tonight."
Forward Clarence Matthews said, "I feel the referees had it out for us tonight."
TSU head coach Cy Alexander said, "I felt like it was a big disparity. On Austin Peay's last possession, I felt as if their guard Landon Shipley got away with a traveling violation. I am going to send this tape to the OVC so they can review it."
Solid team effort, bright future
"This was a big game for us so we had to come out give it everything we had," Ervin said.
In overtime, Austin Peay went on an early 4-0 run, but the Tigers continued to fight their way back in to the ball game, but came up short.
The Tigers had five players in double digits including Ervin, who led the way with 24 points and six assists.
Belton had 15 points, Weaver chipped in with 15. Matthews and forward Jerrell Houston both had solid games.
Matthews scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Houston scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and four blocks.
"I think we can build on this game," Alexander said. "We will have (2004-06 leading scorer) Bruce Price back and we have a good recruiting class coming in."
The loss makes it four straight seasons that the TSU men's basketball team has been ousted in the opening night of the tournament.
A controversial call came in overtime when TSU guard Moraye Ivy hit what seemed to be the game-tying three pointer with 5 seconds
remaining in the extra period, but the officials overturned the call and called it a two-pointer.
A three point field goal would have tied the game at 85, but instead the Tigers were left clawing for one more point down 85-84 with 5 seconds left in overtime.
APSU made two free throws afterwards and a turnover by Tigers' forward Courtney "C-Bo" Bohannon led to the Governors shooting and making two more foul shots.
"I thought it was three pointer," Ivy said.
TSU head coach Cy Alexander said, "One official said he was a was behind the line and the other official said he was on the line. I asked the official to review it, but they said they could not review." In the first half, Big Blue was down by as many as 15 points in the first half, but an 5-0 run by Tiger guard Andre Belton cut the score down to 35 - 27 at halftime.
Arguably playing their best basketball of the season in the second half, the Tigers outscored Austin Peay 42-38, which included
back-to-back three pointers from Belton and guard Ladarious Weaver that tied the score at 55-55.
The game stayed close the rest of the second half.
After a Tigers' stop on defense, Belton hit a mid-range jumper to give the Tigers a 69-67 lead with 55 seconds left. Austin Peay would answer right back with a Fernandez Lockett jumper to knot it up at 69. The Tigers had a chance to take the lead, but junior guard Reiley Ervin missed a three-pointer at the end of regulation.
In the second half, the Tigers shot 58 percent from the field including going 7 of 14 from behind the arc.
"We fought hard," Alexander said. "That is the story of our season."
Ervin gave Big Blue a big boost as he scored 24 points and had six assists.
"I am proud of the way he played," Alexander said. "I told him that him that I wasn't going to take him out (of the game) tonight and he gave a great effort."
Tigers question close calls
The Governors shot 33 of 43 from the free throw line, 14 of which were made in overtime.
"I feel we played good basketball tonight," Ervin said. "But, we did not get the calls tonight."
Forward Clarence Matthews said, "I feel the referees had it out for us tonight."
TSU head coach Cy Alexander said, "I felt like it was a big disparity. On Austin Peay's last possession, I felt as if their guard Landon Shipley got away with a traveling violation. I am going to send this tape to the OVC so they can review it."
Solid team effort, bright future
"This was a big game for us so we had to come out give it everything we had," Ervin said.
In overtime, Austin Peay went on an early 4-0 run, but the Tigers continued to fight their way back in to the ball game, but came up short.
The Tigers had five players in double digits including Ervin, who led the way with 24 points and six assists.
Belton had 15 points, Weaver chipped in with 15. Matthews and forward Jerrell Houston both had solid games.
Matthews scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Houston scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and four blocks.
"I think we can build on this game," Alexander said. "We will have (2004-06 leading scorer) Bruce Price back and we have a good recruiting class coming in."
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