Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Johnson Arena (6,500) -- Morehead, Kentucky. Television: None. Home Record: EKU 12-2, Morehead State 11-1. Away Record: EKU 5-10, Morehead State 4-12. Neutral Record: EKU 1-0, Morehead State 1-2. Conference Record: EKU 10-8, Morehead State 12-6. Series Record: Eastern Kentucky leads, 101-69.

GAME NOTES: Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State will meet on the floor at the Johnson Arena this evening in first round action of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Colonels finished with 18 victories this year, but the team posted a mediocre 10-8 ledger in league play, earning the fifth spot in this year's tournament. EKU comes into this postseason on a down note, having lost two straight, including a 70-65 overtime loss to Murray State. As for the Eagles, they also enter the tournament playing some of their worst basketball, as the team is stuck in the midst of a four-game slide. The slump came at the most inopportune time, as it dropped Morehead State to 12-6 in conference play, giving the team the fourth seed. The Colonels were victorious over Morehead State in the two teams recent matchup, but fell to the Eagles at Johnson Arena back in January. However, the Colonels have a commanding 101-69 edge over Morehead State in the all-time series and that includes a 6-2 mark for EKU in OVC tournament games.

Eastern Kentucky is one of the few defensive-minded teams in the OVC, as the Colonels allowed just 65.7 ppg on the year, which is second only to Murray State in the conference. Unfortunately the team is a one-trick pony offensively, and that pony is Mike Rose, who is third in the league averaging 20.2 ppg. Rose is also leading the team with 5.4 rpg, 74 assists and 50 steals. Josh Taylor and Justin Stommes are contributing 10.4 and 10.3 ppg on the season, respectively, but neither player can be relied on as a solid number two scorer for EKU.

Morehead State was mediocre at both ends of the floor, but for this team to be successful the Eagles will need a tremendous effort out of their frontcourt tandem of Leon Buchanan and Kenneth Faried. Buchanan comes into the tournament leading the team with 15.3 ppg, and is also grabbing 6.5 rpg. As for Faried, he is a double-double machine, posting 13.5 ppg, while grabbing a league best 12.6 rpg. Not to be overlooked is the play of the backcourt duo of Maze Stallworth and Demonte Harper. Stallworth is netting 11.7 ppg on the season, while Harper is chipping in 110.7 ppg, to go along with a team-best 102 assists. There is no secret that the Eagles struggled heading into the postseason, but if there is a silver lining for the Eagles, it is their home record which is a sensational 11-1 on the year.

The Colonels are a tough defensive team, but Rose will not be able to carry EKU past the Eagles by himself. Look for the strong frontcourt of Morehead State to lead the team to victory.

Predicted Outcome

Morehead State 67, Eastern Kentucky 60