OVC Hits Full Stride

Two Undefeated and Two Winless Teams Meet

(Palm Springs, CA) – There will be a standings shake up as the OVC hits full stride. The Ohio Valley Conference’s Thursday-Saturday weekly conference schedule brings countless opportunities for quick changes in rankings and momentum.

Undefeated Teams Meet

Surprising Eastern Illinois (9-6, 2-0), winners of two, overtime games travels to Jacksonville State for a first place showdown with the Gamecocks. Ray Harper’s team (10-5, 2-0) has done the improbable, opening with two road wins.

EIU’s Josiah Wallace is the reigning ‘Newcomer of the Week’ and is the league’s seventh leading scorer (15.0 ppg).

JSU and the Panthers are tied with Murray State (11-2, 2-0) and Austin Peay (10-5, 2-0) for the OVC lead. The return of Detrick Mostella to the JSU lineup has bolstered their attack and the hopes of a regular season title. Mostella has scored 34 points in two OVC contests.

Rookie Coaches Looking For a Win

At the other end of the standings are two, first-year coaches looking for their first OVC victory. Eastern Kentuky’s (7-8, 0-2) A.W. Hamilton wasn’t done any favors by the schedule makers. Thursday the Colonels play their third straight road conference game. The first two were at league favorites Austin Peay and Murray State.

EKU visits Tennessee State (3-11, 0-2) and their new head coach Brian ‘Penny’ Collins. One of these ‘rookies’ will earn their first conference win. EKU’s Nick Mayo has been dynamic. He scored 36 points in his team’s loss at Murray State and is averaging 23.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

TSU has dropped its first two OVC games by a TOTAL of nine points. Collins’ team has been more than competitive. Tripp Davis has caught fire scoring 29 points in two OVC games after averaging 7.3 points during the non-conference schedule.

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