Unfortunately, we are not in Nashville this season like we were last. That's okay! eCougarzone.com is taking you live to press row at the Scottrade Center tomorrow night for the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference (okay, I get it, we aren't in it) Tournament. The live chat begins with SIUc taking on Illinois State followed by Drake and Bradley. Should be a whole lot of fun.
Things got started in the OVC tonight under its new tournament format which implements the dubious double-bye system. No upsets allowed here!
Tonight's winners are testing the system. Okay, cool. You got past the first round, but tomorrow you have to play against a rested team. You happened to win again somehow? Okay, here's Murray State or Morehead State. It's a long road to the championship, but tonight produced two big shockers. Here are the AP recaps.
(8) UT Martin 68, (5) Tennessee State 64
Terence Smith scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half to help eighth-seeded UT Martin upend No. 5 Tennessee State Wednesday in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.Okay, that was a little shocking, and given the seeding is more of an upset than the nightcap. The score of the late game is probably what was the most surprising.
Mike Liabo's four-point play with 4:31 remaining gave the Skyhawks the lead, 60-59 for the first time since it was 2-0.
Smith then scored UTM's next seven points, including a turnaround jumper to give the Skyhawks their largest lead, 65-61 with 42 seconds left.
Liabo and Reuben Clayton finished with 12 points each for UTM.
Kenny Moore had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers, who went on a 10-0 run after UTM scored the game's first basket. They led by as many as 10 points midway through the second half.
(7) Southeast Missouri 65, (6) Eastern Kentucky 49
Wait, really?
Marland Smith hit six 3-pointers and had a double-double to lead Southeast Missouri State past Eastern Kentucky 65-49 Wednesday night in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.
Smith finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Redhawks (10-21), who will take on Austin Peay (3) in Thursday night's quarterfinal round at Municipal Auditorium.
Leon Powell added 12 points and Marcus Brister scored 11 for SEMO, which went on a 19-2 run in the second half to lead 52-38. Lucas Nutt had 10 points.
Joshua Jones led EKU (15-16) with 15 points. Justin Stommes had 11 and Spencer Perrin 10. Stommes hit a 30-footer to pull the Colonels within one, 29-28 at the halftime buzzer and another 3 to stop a 7 1/2 minute scoring drought with 7:49 to play.
So tomorrow night in the OVC looks like this:
(8) UT Martin vs. (4) Tennessee Tech: 6 p.m.
(7) Southeast Missouri vs. (3) Austin Peay: 8:30 p.m.
Our trip through the other valley runs simultaneously and we will periodically check the other scores and have the live chat and Twitter going full speed. Maybe some time to talk SIUE hoops in there as well.
SIUE wrap up stories are going to simulcast here, running in the Alestle tomorrow too.
Respect the Honor Code.
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