JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's and women's basketball teams host Austin Peay for an Ohio Valley Conference Saturday doubleheader at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
Tipoff of the women's game is slated for 2 p.m., while the men's game will follow at approximately 4 p.m. Both games will broadcast on ESPN+.  
 
APSU (10-10, 5-4 OVC) enters the contest fresh off a road victory at then-OVC leader, Tennessee Tech, on Thursday night. The Gamecocks (9-11, 3-6 OVC) suffered a narrow home setback, 64-59, on Thursday to Murray State to drop even with the Racers in league play.
 
With this weekend being the only regular season meetings between JSU and MSU and APSU, potential tiebreaker scenarios for postseason play create extra incentives for needing wins. Heading into the 10^thconference game of an 18-game schedule, Jax State sits tied with Eastern Illinois and MSU for seventh in the OVC standings. The top eight will advance to the OVC Tournament in Evansville, Indiana on March 6-9. 
 
Looking to bring its four-game home losing skid to an end, JSU will look to sophomore Taylor Hawks who's averaging 10.1 points per game in OVC contests. The Gainesville, Ga., native, registered her 10th double-digit performance of the season on Thursday against MSU, leading the Gamecocks with 14 points. She's joined by outside threats Destiney Elliott and Yamia Johnson who look to heat back up after hot starts earlier in the year. 
 
On the inside, low post presence Rayven Pearson is averaging 10.3 points in home games. She's been a threat on the glass all season, much like her career, and will move to fourth on the school's all-time rebounding list on Saturday with her second board of the day while she's averaging 9.6 per game.
 
The Govs control the all-time series with a 15-11 advantage heading into the 27th meeting. However, JSU has won the last three meetings – its longest winning streak in the series' history – including a 51-50 fourth-quarter rally in Clarksville, Tenn., last year. Women's Basketball - Game 21
Jacksonville State (9-11, 3-6 OVC) vs. Austin Peay (10-10, 5-4 OVC)
February 2, 2019 | 2 p.m.
Jacksonville, Ala. | Pete Mathews Coliseum (3,618)
Game Notes: Jacksonville State | Austin Peay

SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: Feb. 17, 2018 @ Austin Peay (W, 51-50)
All-Time Series Record: Austin Peay leads series 15-11

FOLLOW LIVE
Listen: Gamecocks Radio Network - 91.9 WLJS & 97.9 WVOK
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here The Jacksonville State men's basketball team looks to defend its spot atop the OVC against second-place Austin Peay (15-7, 7-2 OVC) in its only meeting of the season with the Governors.
 
The Gamecocks (16-6, 8-1 OVC) walloped Murray State 86-66 Thursday in front of a sold-out Pete Mathews Coliseum to take sole possession of first place in the league. It is the first time in Jacksonville State's Division I history it has sat in first place after nine games in conference play.
 
Thursday's win over the Racers was just the third in the program's history, upping its all-time series record to 3-22 in 25 meetings. Head coach Ray Harper is responsible for two of those wins; earning the second with a 76-71 victory on Jan. 11, 2018. Harper now owns a 3-5 all-time record against Murray State.
 
Austin Peay enters Saturday's matchup tied for second in the league with Belmont and Murray State. The Governors have won three of their last five with their only two conference losses coming to Eastern Illinois and Belmont.
 
The Govs own the league's fourth-best scoring offense at 82.7 points per game, and are outscoring opponents by nearly 11 points, but they will meet the best scoring defense in the conference in JSU; the Gamecocks are allowing just 67.2 points per game.

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Men's Basketball - Game 23
Jacksonville State (16-6, 8-1 OVC) vs. Austin Peay (15-7, 7-2 OVC)
February 2, 2019 | 4 p.m.
Jacksonville, Ala. | Pete Mathews Coliseum (3,618)
Game Notes: Jacksonville State | Austin Peay

SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: Feb. 17, 2018 (L, 60-57) @ APSU
All-Time Series Record: Austin Peay leads series 19-6

FOLLOW LIVE
Listen: Gamecocks Radio Network - 91.9 WLJS & 97.9 WVOK
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here

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Season tickets and single-game tickets are now available for purchase online at JSUGamecocksTickets.com, by phone at (256) 782-8499 and on campus at the JSU Ticket Office at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Children 18-years-old and under and JSU students are admitted free.
 
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSU_MBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).