CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) For the second time in a week, Austin Peay State University men’s basketball will be playing one of the Ohio Valley Conference favorites on the road.

Last Saturday, the Governors rolled to an 87-67 victory at defending OVC tournament champion Jacksonville State, picked to finish second in the preseason conference standings. Come Saturday, the Governors will be battling defending OVC regular-season champs and preseason favorite Belmont, 5 p.m., Saturday at the Curb Event Center.

The Governors come into the game at 10-9 overall, 5-2 in the OVC, good enough for a five-team second-place tie in the league standings after Thursday’s loss to Tennessee State. The preseason favorites, meanwhile, are living up to expectations, owning a 6-1 league mark after a 79-72 win at home against Murray State, also Thursday night.

Belmont moved into first-place in the OVC by itself, Thursday night, knocking down 14 three pointers and defeating rival Murray State, 79-72. The Bruins lead the OVC In three pointers made (11.4) by almost 2 ½ per game. The Bruins are third in overall field-goal percentage (47.4 percent) and lead the OVC in free-throw shooting (75.9 percent).

Austin Peay took the preseason OVC favorite down to the wire to open league play, dropping an 82-77 decision to Belmont at the Dunn Center, Dec. 31, 2016. After trailing 40-32 at halftime and by 13 early in the second half, the Govs chipped away at the deficit, using an 11-5 run midway through the half—thanks to seven points from Josh Robinson—to cut the deficit to five and a later 10-3 run cut it to four with less than a minute to go. But Robinson’s 3-point attempt rolled off the rim before Taylor Barnette’s four free throws sealed the contest.

Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay’s Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all Governor athletics, as well as the Governor men’s basketball Twitter page (@AustinPeayMBB).

Live stats will be available during the game at PeayStats.com, and all home games and Ohio Valley Conference games can be viewed on www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com. Postgame video interviews and other videos from around APSU Athletics can be found on our YouTube page (www.youtube.com/letsgopeay).