Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion Austin Peay was selected as a the No. 13 seed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee Sunday.

The Governors (27-7, 13-3) will face the NCAA East Regional’s No. 4 seed and Conference USA Tournament champion Louisville (24-6, 11-15). The two teams will meet Friday at Birmingham, Ala. It will be the first time a men’s basketball team from Austin Peay will compete in the NCAA Tournament since 1996.

Louisville defeated Alabama-Birmingham 83-78 for the Conference USA Tournament championship.

Austin Peay earned the OVC’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 63-57 victory against Tennessee Tech March 8 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Austin Peay led by nine points in the first half, but lost the lead midway through the second half.

Senior forward Damien Kinloch scored 15 points and 13 rebounds to help give the Golden Eagles (20-12, 11-5) a four-point lead, but Austin Peay’s balanced scoring attack rallied to reclaim the lead.

The Governors had five players score in double-digits. Guards sophomore Anthony Davis and junior Corey Gipson led the team with 13 points while juniors forward Adrian Henning and guard Rhet Wierzba added 12 apiece.

OVC Tournament Most Valuable Player junior center Josh Lewis scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Tech’s junior guard Cameron Crisp was held in check, after scoring over 20 points in his previous three games, he managed just four points.

Senior guard Brent Jolly tried to make amends for Crisp’s off game with 12 points of his own, but it was not enough.

Austin Peay advanced to the championship game with an 59-56 win overtime preseason conference favorite Murray State (17-12, 9-7), who eliminated Eastern (14-15, 9-7).

Lewis made a layup with 50 seconds remaining to give the Governors a 57-56 lead and blocked junior forward Cuthbert Victor’s shot on Murray’s following possession. Davis gave the Governors a three-point lead by making two of three free throws after he was fouled while attempting a three-pointer.

Murray State had a chance to extend the game into a second overtime, but senior forward Antione Whelchel’s buzzer-beating attempt was off line.

Tech reached the championship game for the second year in a row by defeating Morehead State 88-71.

Crisp led the Golden Eagles with 22 points in the game, while Kinloch finished with a double-double with 21 points and 10 boards.

OVC Player of the Year Ricky Minard scored 22 points for Morehead (20-9, 13-3), who tied Austin Peay for the regular season title.

Henning, Gipson and Lewis earned All-Tournament Team honors for Austin Peay. Other All-Tournament Team members include Murray State’s Victor, Tech’s Crisp and Kinloch.