The Austin Peay Governors clinched a decisive 76-63 victory against Stetson on Saturday, spearheaded by LJ Thomas' electrifying 22-point performance. Shooting 50% from the field and a perfect 6-6 on free throws, Thomas grounded the Hatters’ defense throughout this Atlantic Sun Conference showdown. With this win, Austin Peay (12-15, 7-7) inches closer to playoff contention.
Isaac Haney delivered a clutch 18 points, sinking three triples and dishing out five assists. Sai Witt added 15 points, leveraging physical drives to dominate inside.
Our team chemistry tonight was unmatched, said a team spokesperson. When Thomas and Haney are locked in, we’re tough to stop.
Stetson (7-20, 5-9) struggled despite Jamie Phillips Jr.’s game-high 26 points. Jordan Wood’s 12 points offered limited relief as the Hatters extended their skid to six losses. Key weaknesses included:
- Poor three-point defense (allowed 42% from deep)
- Turnovers in critical moments
Austin Peay’s relentless free-throw accuracy (84% team-wide) sealed the win. The Governors face Bellarmine next, while Stetson hosts North Florida—both games pivotal for conference seeding.