Wednesday, March 18th, 8:05 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Carver Arena (11,080) -- Peoria, Illinois. Television: None. Home Record: Austin Peay 9-5, Bradley 11-3. Away Record: Austin Peay 9-6, Bradley 5-9. Neutral Record: Austin Peay 1-2, Bradley 2-2. Conference Record: Austin Peay 13-5, Bradley 10-8. Series Record: Austin Peay leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Bradley and Austin Peay will collide on the hardwood at Carver Arena this evening, when the Braves host the Governors in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The Govs' chances to play in the NCAA Tournament came crashing to a heartbreaking end when the team fell to Morehead State, 67-65, in double-overtime in the OVC Tournament. Last season the Govs grabbed the OVC title, but fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas. This is the third straight postseason appearance for APSU which also suffered a first round loss in the 2007 NIT. As for the Braves, this is their fourth consecutive postseason event. Last year the team grabbed four victories in the CBI Tournament before falling to Tulsa in the Championship. This season Bradley took a step back, finishing with just an 18-14 overall ledger. The team closed down its season with a 2-2 mark, including a 76-62 setback to Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. With respect to the all-time series between the two schools, the Governors have won both meetings against Bradley.

The Governors were one of the top scoring offensive teams in the Ohio Valley Conference and come into this matchup posting a strong 75.3 ppg, behind a healthy 46.9 percent shooting effort. However, the majority of the team's success has come from Drake Reed. Reed, who is posting a 56.3 percent shooting display, is leading the team with 21.8 ppg, while also grabbing a team-high 7.4 rpg. Wes Channels is the only other player registering double figures, as the guard is netting 16.7 ppg, while dishing out a team-best 3.1 apg. Unfortunately at the other end of the court the team has dealt with plenty of problems, as opponents are producing 74.0 ppg against APSU. The Govs have recorded 214 steals and 102 blocks on the year, while also forcing 14.1 turnovers per matchups.

The Braves have leaned heavily on the play of Theron Wilson in the paint, as the big man is pacing the team with 14.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg. Wilson has committed a team-worst 84 turnovers, but the center is also leading the squad with 60 steals. Sam Maniscalco is contributing 12.4 ppg and has dished out 91 assists, while Dodie Dunson is chipping in 10.4 ppg. Running the show on the floor has been Eddren McCain, who has distributed a team-best 101 assists, to go along with just 5.6 ppg. As a team the Braves are shooting a mediocre 43.4 percent from the floor, and that has led to just 66.8 ppg. Defense has been a different story for Bradley, as the team seems to be much more focused at that end of the floor. The Braves are holding teams to just 66.3 ppg, and have forced 15.0 turnovers per matchup, while collecting 244 steals.

The Braves might be home, but the Governors have a strong frontcourt that can attack the glass, making it easy for second chance points. This should be a close contest, but look for Austin Peay to grab a strong victory.

Predicted Outcome

Austin Peay 71, Bradley 68