Head coach Rick Samuels predicts Murray State will win the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

First round matchups

– 5 Samford @ 4 Eastern Kentucky

Samuels prediction: Eastern Kentucky in the closest game of the first round.

“Eastern Kentucky’s been playing well as of late,” Samuels said.

Eastern lost at Samford in the teams only contest by four points after the Bulldogs overcame a nine-point second half deficit.

The Panthers lost a close game to Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 21 at Lantz. Eastern built up 11-point leads on two different occasions in the first half but the Bulldogs came back to take the win.

– 6 Jacksonville State @ 3 Morehead State

Samuels prediction: Ricky Minard will have a big night to lead the Eagles to victory.

Eastern was able to beat Morehead State by 17 points without much of a problem in the teams only battle of the year at Lantz on Feb. 19.

Unfortunately it was not the same story when the Panthers took their game to Jacksonville State on Jan. 31. The Panthers lost to the Gamecocks by five points.

– 7 Tennessee Tech @ 2 Murray State:

Samuels prediction: The Racers will win going away.

“They have great depth and they’ve been playing well as of late,” Samuels said. “They also play a very physical defense.”

When Murray State played the Panthers at Lantz Feb. 5, the Racers beat the Panthers going away. It was much of the same in Eastern’s final game at Murray State on Feb. 28 as the Racers defeated the Panthers by 30 points.

– 8 Tennessee State @ 1 Austin Peay

Samuels Prediction: Austin Peay wins in a close one.

“Austin Peay has been in a lot of close games and I’m not sure Tennessee State has the maturity level to win on the road,” Samuels said.

In the Panthers first OVC game of the year, Austin Peay won by seven points on Jan 10, at Lantz. Twelve days later it was like deja vu for the Panthers as they lost the rematch at Austin Peay by seven.

On Jan. 17, Bruce Price and Tennessee State came to Lantz. Price scored the final 10 points for the Tigers, leading them to a one-point victory. In the rematch at Tennessee State the Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak beating the Panthers 75-68.

Second round matchups

– 3 Morehead State @ 2 Murray State

Samuels Prediction: Murray State wins by a comfortable margin.

“Morehead’s running out of bodies,” Samuels said. “They just don’t have enough players.”

Murray State swept the two game season series against Morehead.

– 4 Eastern Kentucky @ 1 Austin Peay

Samuels upset special: Austin Peay’s luck in close games runs out.

“Eastern Kentucky has a great perimeter game and if they can get hot and hit a bunch of three pointers, they have a good chance at winning,” Samuels said.

Austin Peay swept the two game season series against Eastern Kentucky.

– OVC Championship

– 4 Eastern Kentucky @ 2 Murray State

Samuels prediction: Murray State moves onto the NCAA tournament.

“Frankly Murray State is the best team in the conference,” Samuels said.

Murray State swept Eastern Kentucky in the two game season series.

Austin Peay beat Murray State in the teams only matchup in a Feb. 14, road game by seven points. Austin Peay went on to go undefeated in the OVC.

– Player of the year

Samuels prediction: Austin Peay’s Adrian Henning

“Austin Peay went through the OVC season undefeated,” Samuels said. “They have great team chemistry but Henning is their leader.”