Worldwide audience to see Golden Eagles in OVC Championship game
For the first time since 1986, neither Murray State or Austin Peay will play in the OVC Championship Contest. Instead, for the first time since 2003, the no. 4 seeded Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech will match up against the no. 2 Eagles of Morehead State in Saturday's 7 p.m. showdown.
Game to be shown on ESPN2; Also on Armed Forced Network
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the first time since 2003, the Tennessee Tech men's basketall team will make an appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship contest. The No. 4 seeded Golden Eagles pulled off an upset over top-ranked and defending OVC Champions, the Racers of Murray State, in the semi-final round on Friday, 64-59, The win marked Tech's first over Murray since 2009, and pits the Golden Eagles against the Morehead State Eagles in the Championship showdown on Saturday at 7 p.m.
A win over the Eagles Saturday would earn Tennessee Tech an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1963.
The game will be show live nationwide on ESPN2. The game is also being picked up by the Armed Forces Network (AFN) and will be available for U.S. Service personnel worldwide.
The Golden Eagles have an 0-2 record against Morehead State this season thus far. On January 6, the Eagles took the 76-64 victory on their own court, while Tech shouldered a 76-60 loss when Morehead came to Cookeville.
Morehead also holds the edge on the lifetime series, having notched 72 wins to Tech's 60.
Ironically, the end of the 2009-10 Golden Eagle season came at the hands of Morehead State, as the Eagles handed Tech a 76-47 loss to knock them out of the OVC Tournament in the semifinal round last year.
This year, Jud Dillard leads the Golden Eagles against Morehead State, averaging 13 points and six rebounds when playing against the Eagles, followed by Kevin Murphy who averages 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.
Including the win over Murray, Tech is riding a winning streak of seven headed into Saturday's championship game. Morehead, meawhile, has won 11 of their last 12 games, but has only won two straight after being defeated by Murray 62-70 on February 24.
The Golden Eagle women have also advanced to the Championship round, which will be played a 3 p.m., making Tech the only school in the OVC to have both the men's and women's program in the final round.
Fans who cannot attend the game may watch the game (see above) or listen on the Golden Eagle Sports Network, with the broadcast available on the radio, telephone or Internet.
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