Austin Peay pulls away for 96-81 win over SE Missouri State

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Averyl Ugba tossed in 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Terry Taylor posted a double-double and Austin Peay cruised to a 96-81 victory over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday.

Taylor, a freshman who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for his 10th double-double, buried a 3-pointer on the game's first shot. Ugba scored the next 14 points for the Governors (14-10, 9-3 Ohio Valley Conference), who jumped out to a 17-9 lead on their way to a third straight win. Zach Glotta hit three 3-pointers and scored 19 and Dayton Gumm hit both of his 3-pointers and scored 14. Austin Peay shot 58 percent from distance (11 of 19).

Ugba and Glotta combined for 27 first-half points, but Denzel Mahoney scored 12 of his team-high 20 points and Ray Kowalski scored all 11 of his points to help the Redhawks (10-15, 4-8) pull within 51-49 at halftime.

Southeast Missouri State whittled the lead down to two points on three straight possessions early in the second half, but Gumm's 3-pointer ignited a 15-2 run and Austin Peay stayed comfortably in front from there. The Governors already have their most conference wins since the 2010-11 season and they are 2-0 in February for the first time since 2007-08.