OVC Basketball Tournament: Unlikely heroics theme of first round action

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Brian "Penny" Collins of the Tennessee State Tigers looks on during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 21, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Heroics from unlikely sources was the theme for the first round of the OVC Basketball Tournament.

For teams to succeed during post-season tournament time, they need heroics from unlikely sources. Coaches in OVC Basketball know opposing teams so well, that getting production from players other than their stars is important to successful March basketball.

During the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament teams received those kinds of contributions.

Game One – Tennessee State 77, Southern Illinois Edwardsville 62

Tennessee State (14-17) has two second-team, All-OVC players in Carlos Marshall and Kassim Nicholson, and four players average double-figure scoring. One of those players IS NOT Shakem Johnson. Prior to Wednesday’s game, he had exactly zero games this season when he scored 20 points.

Wednesday he scored 22 points and grabbed eleven rebounds, making ten of 12 shots and lifting the Tigers into the OVC Tournament’s quarterfinal round. TSU raced to a 42-28 half-time lead and coasted to the victory.

SIUE (11-21) finishes its season having lost to Brian ‘Penny’ Collins’ team for the third time this season. Shaun Doss Jr. led the Cougars with 16 points and ten rebounds. SIUE had to win two of its final three games to earn an invitation to the Evansville-based tournament.

Tennessee State faces fourth-seeded Southeast Missouri (13-17, 8-9) at 6:30 pm

Game Two – Tennessee Tech 78, Austin Peay 51

Senior Shandon Goldman entered Wednesday’s game as the Golden Eagles’ ninth leading scorer and averaged just over one three-pointer per game. Goldman had started just one game against OVC competition this season. Head coach John Pelphrey inserted Goldman into the starting lineup and ‘Biggie’ responded by making five three-pointers (15 points) and by grabbing seven rebounds.

Sophomore Keishawn Davidson led the Golden Eagles with 20 points and seven rebounds.

The 6’10 graduate student sparked TTU’s 12-point first-half lead and he and his teammates stretched the lead to the final 27-point margin. Tech’s second team, all-conference guard, Jr. Clay came in averaging 13.3 points per game, but was held to just nine points on a three-of-11 shooting night.

OVC ‘Freshman of the Year’, Austin Peay’s Elijah Hutchins-Everett was held to just eight points. APSU senior Elton Walker came off the bench to score 16 points to lead the Governors. The two teams had split their regular-season series.

Next. OVC Tournament preview. dark

Tennessee Tech’s win creates a date with the reigning OVC Tournament champion Morehead State. The Eagles 21-10 swept TTU this season and are 8-and-3 during the long history of this tournament. Preston Spradlin’s team has won at least one game in ten of their last 12 OVC Tournament appearances.

Thursday’s game is set for 9:00 p.m.