Saturday, March 8th, 5:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Municipal Auditorium (9,654) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Tennessee St. 7-5, Austin Peay 13-1. Away Record: Tennessee St. 7-9, Austin Peay 8-8. Neutral Record: Tennessee St. 1-2, Austin Peay 2-1. Conference Record: Tennessee St. 10-10, Austin Peay 16-4. Series Record: Austin Peay leads, 38-22.

GAME NOTES: The top-seeded Austin Peay Governors and the sixth-seeded Tennessee State Tigers will meet in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title game with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Tennessee State has won this tournament on two occasions, but it has been 14 years since the program last captured the crown. The Tigers are riding a three-game win streak that includes an 83-75 win over Murray State last night. The club is still a game below .500 overall at 15-16, but the record will be an afterthought if the program can find a way to win tonight and reach the "Big Dance". As for Austin Peay, it has three OVC Tournament championships to its credit, the most recent of which came in 2003. The Governors, who have won 23 games this season, are riding a five-game win streak that includes a 78-77 decision over Tennessee-Martin in last night's semifinal round. Austin Peay and Tennessee State split a pair of close games during the regular season, but the Govs still hold a commanding 38-22 lead in the all-time series.

Tennessee State got 20 points and eight assists from All-Ohio Valley Conference performer Bruce Price last night to help the Tigers hold off Murray State in the semifinal round. Gerald Robinson added 12 points and eight rebounds in the win, and James Craft had 10 points off the bench. Tennessee State finished with 20 assists against only eight turnovers, and a 36-29 rebounding advantage also contributed to the triumph. Price is an explosive scorer who is netting 18.0 ppg to go along with 5.0 apg and 71 steals. Robinson is netting 15.4 ppg, and Jerrell Houston contributes 11.2 ppg to the lineup. Houston is a versatile performer who also adds 5.9 rpg, 47 steals and 33 blocks. The Tigers are generating 75.5 ppg while allowing an almost identical 75.4 ppg.

In the closer-than-expected victory over UT-Martin last night, Austin Peay missed 10 of its 22 free throws and suffered a 40-33 rebounding disadvantage. Still, the Governors were able to connect on 10-of-22 three-pointers and finished with 15 assists against only nine turnovers. Wes Channels scored 16 points, and Fernandez Lockett added 15 points and nine rebounds. Drake Reed pitched in 13 points, and Todd Babington contributed 11. Reed is posting 14.8 ppg this season, and Wright, who has started all 33 games, adds 11.7 ppg to the mix. Both Channels and Babington provide 11.2 ppg, and Lockett contributes 10.9 ppg.

In what figures to be a close game from start to finish, give a narrow edge to Austin Peay. The Govs survived a scare last night, showing the heart of a champion.

Predicted Outcome

Austin Peay 73, Tennessee State 68