BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -- Jamal Crook scored 16 points and George Fant had 15 points and 14 rebounds to lead Western Kentucky past Austin Peay 74-54 Tuesday night.

The Hilltoppers (1-1), coming off a 67-64 overtime loss to Southern Miss, were ahead 49-43 when they used an 18-1 run to pull away.

The game, which was part of the 2012 Cancun Challenge, was tied at 33 at the half after neither team shot well from the field - Western Kentucky at 34.2 percent (13 of 38) and the Governors at 38.2 percent (13 of 34).

But the Hilltoppers improved to 51.7 percent in the second half (15 of 29) while Austin Peay got worse at 25.9 percent (7 of 27).

Crook also dished out nine of Western Kentucky's 17 assists and Teeng Akol added 14 points.

AJ Lynch had 15 points and Chris Horton added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Austin Peay (1-1).

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