EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -It has been a long transition for SIU Edwardsville from Division II to Division I.
SIUE joined the OVC in 2008, but this is its first season competing as a basketball member. The Cougars got off to a flying start, winning three of their first four OVC games, including an impressive 15-point home win against Tennessee Tech. They already own a road win at UT Martin. The Cougars also will host their first ESPNU telecast, Saturday, when Murray State comes to town.
The Cougars, like Austin Peay, comes in at 3-3 in the OVC, having lost two straight road games. Although SIUE is not eligible for the conference tourney, they can help determine teams that participate and seedings.
Junior 6-6 forwards Jerome Jones (13.1 ppg), who is averaging 6.4 rpg, and Mark Yelovich (12.8 ppg), lead the SIUE attack. Freshman guard Kris Davis (12.3 ppg) is one of the OVC's best three-point shooters, making 59 percent of his attempts.
Lennox Forrester, who has led SIUE in the transition to Division I, is in his fifth season as head coach.
This APSU's first meeting with the Cougars. The Govs come in amidst a three-game winning streak to even its OVC record at 3-3. They are seeking their first league road win.
After scoring 80 points in a 15-point victory against Eastern Kentucky, the Govs ground out wins against Jacksonville State, 60-57, and Tennessee State, 69-63, the latter coming Monday night. The Govs placed four players in double figures, led by the inside duo of John Fraley (16 points) and Melvin Baker (15 points) as they combined for 11 of 19 shooting. Josh Terry, after some recent struggling shooting performances, finished five-of-six from the field for 12 points while TyShwan Edmondson added 10.
The game will allow sophomore forward Will Triggs to play in his hometown while fellow Edwardsville native Anthony Campbell, who is out for the season with a knee injury, also will be making the trip.
Governors Pardon
- This is Austin Peay's 80th season of basketball.
- Dave Loos, APSU's all-time winningest basketball coach, also is the OVC's all-time wins leader with 357 victories. He also has 439 career coaching wins.
- The Dave Aaron Arena playing floor was named Dave Loos Court, Summer 2007. Loos is believed to be one of only three current Division I men's coaches who are coaching on courts that bear their respective names-Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim-are the other two. Valparaiso's Homer Drew, who retired after the 2010-11 season, had the floor named after him last season.
- Since 1993-94, Austin Peay has finished no worse than fifth in the OVC standings.
- Austin Peay has reached at least the OVC tournament semifinals in 13 of the last 17 years.
- Austin Peay has made 27 straight appearances in the OVC tournament.
