RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team begins an exciting final week of the regular season Thursday evening at UT Martin. Tip time is set for 8:30 p.m.

The Colonels (18-10, 10-6 OVC) are one of five OVC teams fighting for a top-four seed in the upcoming league tournament. Wins over UT Martin and Murray State this weekend would most likely put the Colonels in position to host an OVC tournament quarterfinal game Tuesday. If EKU wins just once on the road trip, the Colonels would need some help in order to finish in the top four. Two losses this weekend would lock Eastern into the number five seed.

UT Martin (19-8, 12-4 OVC) is tied for first place in the conference. The Skyhawks can clinch their first-ever conference regular season title with two wins this weekend. Senior Lester Hudson is the nation’s second leading scorer, averaging 26.9 ppg. He also leads the league in free throw shooting (87.7 percent) and steals (2.4 spg). On Monday, UTM fell to Murray State, 74-59. The Skyhawks were just 2-of-24 (8.3 percent) from behind the arc in the loss. Hudson and Benzor Simmons each tallied 15 points against the Racers.

EKU handed the Skyhawks one of their four OVC losses on Dec. 6, 78-75. The Maroons have won five in a row over UT Martin and eight of the last nine meetings against the Skyhawks. Eastern leads the all-time series, 21-13.

Following the UT Martin game, Eastern Kentucky concludes the regular season Saturday, Feb. 28, at Murray State.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--None

Video Streaming
--Thursday’s game can be seen on the web as part of OVCSports.tv. The cost is $5.95. Click here for live video stream!

Live Audio
--Thursday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM and WEKU 88.9 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--None

Storylines
--Eastern Kentucky has won four games in a row and seven of its last eight contests. The Colonels have scored at least 70 points in eight straight games.

--Freshman Jorge Camacho scored a season-high 17 points in the win over Ohio on Feb. 21. Over the last three games, Camacho is shooting 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the floor.

--Two of Eastern’s best shooting halves of the year have come in the last three games. The Colonels shot 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the field in the first half against Ohio (Feb. 21) and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) in the second stanza versus Eastern Illinois (Feb. 14).