Two Games Before Evansville

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(St. Louis, MO) – Three Ohio Valley Conference teams are fighting for their playoff lives and two are competing for the conference championship. There are two games left in the OVC’s regular season and there are important issues still to settle.

As Murray State (22-5) and Belmont (22-7) remain tied at 14-2 for the league title, at the other end of the conference, Southern Illinois Edwardsville (9-18, 5-11) is trying desperately to hold off both Eastern Kentucky (10-19) and UT Martin (9-20), who are both 4-12 for the final spot in next week’s conference tournament in Evansville.

Between those top and bottom challenges are the four teams competing for third through sixth place. It will be a wild last two games!

Thursday’s Games

UT Martin (9-20, 4-12) @ Morehead State (6-21, 2-14) – 6:30 pm – OVCDN

The Skyhawks have actually been a better road conference team (3-4) than at home (1-8). They’ve lost three straight games and the Eagles have lost eight straight and along with Southeast Missouri (postseason ban) are the only OVC teams guaranteed to miss the trip to Evansville. UTM travels to SEMO on Saturday.

Head coach Anthony Stewart looks to Matthew Butler (15.8 points per game), Fatodd Lewis (12.4 ppg & 7.5 rebounds) and Delfincko Bogan (9.1 ppg) to lead the charge. Both Butler and Bogan average three assists per game.

Austin Peay (16-12, 11-5) @ SIUE (9-18, 5-11) – 7 pm – Fox Sports Midwest

The Governors are trying to hold off Tennessee State for third place in the league race while the Cougars are trying to qualify for the conference tournament for the first time under Jon Harris. SIUE has already won more games and more league contests than in any of Harris’ three seasons. They have an outside chance at catching Eastern Illinois whom they visit on Saturday.

Cougar seniors Jalen Henry and Keenan Simmons are on the verge of impressive personal milestones. Henry is one point shy of 1,000 for his career and Simmons needs three rebounds to reach a four year total of 500. They face likely ‘Newcomer of the Year’ Averyl Ugba and a APSU team that needs a win and hosts Murray State on Saturday.

SEMO (14-15, 8-8) @ Eastern Kentucky (10-19, 4-12) – 7 pm – OVCDN

SEMO is banned from postseason play, but is performing at their highest level as the season nears its end. Rick Ray’s squad has won six of their last ten including a road sweep of Eastern Illinois and SIUE last week. This young team will be a upper half OVC team next season.

EKU’s surprising road win at Tennessee State last week kept their playoff hopes alive. Colonel star Nick Mayo continues to play at a high level averaging 18 points and over six rebounds per game. Ironically EKU has won just once in its eight home games. They travel to Morehead State on Saturday.

Murray State (22-5, 14-2) @ Eastern Illinois (10-17, 6-10) – 7:30 pm – OVCDN

While the Racers attempt to wrestle the OVC title from Belmont, the Panthers are looking over their shoulder at SIUE. Their win at UT Martin last week has given Jay Spoonhour’s injury-riddled squad a one game lead over the Cougars whom they defeated in Edwardsville and whom they host on Saturday.

Likely ‘Player of the Year’ Jonathan Stark and ‘Freshman of the Year’ contender Ja Morant work the perimeter and Terrell Miller roams the paint for the Racers while Spoonhour’s team has patched together the scoring of Montell Goodwin and Mack Smith as Muusa Dama and Ray Crossland do the dirty work for a team that typically utilizes just seven players.

Tennessee State (15-12, 10-6) @ Tennessee Tech (17-12, 9-7) – 7:30 pm – OVCDN

In a critical head-to-head matchup these two are vying for fourth place (if not third where State is concerned) with Jacksonville State. The difference between fourth and fifth is significant in the OVC tournament. The fifth and sixth seeds must play in the opening round, while third and fourth place receive an opening round bye. State’s hiccup against EKU last week, could prove costly.

Tech’s overtime win earlier in the season was also a big blow to the Tigers’ hopes. Dana Ford’s team has won eight of their last ten. Go to Part One and Part Two of our interview with coach Ford to learn about the Tigers.

Tech is 10-2 at home, with their only home blemishes coming to Murray State and Belmont. Kajon Mack is quietly having a great season. He’s averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. The Golden Eagles host Jacksonville State Saturday, so their fate is in their own hands.

Belmont (22-7, 14-2) @ Jacksonville State (18-11, 9-7) – 8 pm – ESPNU

This is a confrontation between the reigning conference champion and the reigning tournament winner. JSU has lost three in a row, but remember the Gamecocks defeated the Bruins in Nashville and they gave Murray State one of their two losses. Ray Harper’s team seems to play the best against the best.

Belmont has won three straight and 11 of their last twelve games and they dropped 108 points on Morehead State last Saturday as Dylan Windler scored 36 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for the first 30/20 in Belmont history and just the third such performance in the NCAA this season.

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