Austin Peay 72, S. Illinois 70

Nov 20, 2013, 02:05 am

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Will Triggs had 17 points and Travis Betran scored four points down the stretch to help Austin Peay defeat Southern Illinois 72-70 on Tuesday.

Betran put Austin Peay (2-1) up 70-68 with a jumper with 1:02 to play, then sank two free throws to hold off the Salukis. Chris Horton blocked Anthony Beane's jumper with 1 second to go to seal the win.

Betran scored 16 points for the Governors, including two 3-pointers, and Demarius Smith scored 12 points. Horton had a game-high seven blocks.

Desmar Jackson led Southern Illinois (0-3) with 27 points and 10 rebounds, Jalen Pendleton had 13 points and Beane added 10.

Austin Peay led 35-32 at halftime and led by as much as 17 points in the second period, but the Salukis closed, sparked by Jackson and Beane and a layup by Sean O'Brien that made it a two-point game with 13 seconds to play.