RICHMOND, Ky. – The 2009 OVC tournament begins Tuesday evening with the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team traveling to rival Morehead State. Tip time for the quarterfinal game is slated for 7:30 p.m.

The Colonels (18-12, 10-8 OVC), the tournament’s No. 5 seed, need to rebound quickly following two tough road losses at UT Martin and Murray State last week. The Colonels went 2-7 on the road against OVC foes this year and have lost three consecutive OVC road games. Senior Mike Rose has struggled down the stretch as well. Over the last three games, the guard is 3-of-10 (30 percent) shooting from behind the three-point arc. Rose had been making 3.5 three-pointers per game prior to this stretch.

Morehead State (16-15, 12-6 OVC), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, concluded the regular season just like EKU – two road losses at Murray State and UT Martin. The Eagles lead the league in field goal percentage defense (41.7), rebounding offense (38.7 rpg) and rebounding margin (+7.5). Sophomore Kenneth Faried tallied his 20th double-double of the year Saturday at UT Martin with team highs in both points (14) and rebounds (15). Senior Leon Buchanan, the team’s leading scorer, posted 25 points in the last meeting against Eastern.

This will be the 171st meeting between the two schools. EKU has played Morehead State more than any other opponent in program history. The two teams split the regular season series with each team winning on its home court. Eastern leads the all-time series, 101-69.

If Eastern Kentucky defeats Morehead State, the Colonels would face either No. 1 UT Martin or No. 8 Tennessee Tech in the OVC semifinals Friday in Nashville, Tenn.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

2009 OVC Tournament Bracket
--Click here for the bracket!

Television
--None

Video Streaming
--Tuesday’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
--Tuesday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM and WEKU 88.9 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Storylines
-- Eastern is 6-2 all-time against Morehead State in the OVC tournament. The Colonels have won the past two meetings, both coming in the opening round (2007 and 1995).

-- Since the OVC expanded its tournament to eight teams in 1997, the No. 5 seed is 3-9 against the No. 4 seed. Three of the games have gone to overtime with the No. 4 seed prevailing on each occasion.

-- Sophomore Justin Stommes has reached double figures scoring in five of the last six games. During that stretch, Stommes is shooting 51 percent (26-of-51) from the floor. Stommes led EKU with 18 points at Murray State on Feb. 28.