Small Conference Game of the Day – February 4

CHATTANOOGA at EASTERN KENTUCKY, 7:00 PM Eastern, ovcsports.com

Non-conference games in February are a rarity, but that is exactly what we have tonight as the Chattanooga Mocs out of the Southern Conference travel to Richmond, Kentucky to take on the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.  These two teams are among the leaders in their conferences with the visiting Mocs currently holding a half game lead over Davidson in the SoCon, while EKU is a game behind Belmont in the East Division of the OVC.

Chattanooga has been a breakout surprise so far this season in the Southern.  The Mocs went 13-19 last year and were only picked to finish in the middle of the pack, at best.  However, new head coach Will Wade, Shaka Smart’s former assistant at VCU, has brought the VCU style of play to the Scenic City and has his team on top of the league standings at 9-1, with their only conference loss having come at Davidson last week.  They are led offensively by a player known only as Z. Mason.  Z. is averaging 17.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in SoCon play and is definitely the player to watch tonight.

The host Eastern Kentucky Colonels continue to be among the leaders in the Ohio Valley, right behind Belmont in the East and West Division leader Murray State.  They are 16-7 overall and 7-3 in league so far.  EKU has only lost once at home so far this year, to Murray State.  They are led offensively by Glenn Cosey who is averaging 19.1 points per game.