Tennessee State head coach Cy Alexander confirmed injured guard Bruce Price will not play during the 2006-2007 season.

This is the second yearlong injury Price has suffered in consecutive seasons.

“It’s the second time I’ve been through a whole season without my best player,” said Tennessee State head coach Cy Alexander.

The 2003-2004 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year has started 53 of the 58 games he’s played with the Tigers.

A severe knee injury that occurred during a preseason practice has kept the Minneapolis native off the court this season. Last year, the NCAA granted Price a medical red-shirt after only being able to suit up for six contests averaging 19.3 points per game.

“If that knee would go out again, his basketball career would be over, so he’s listening to the advice of doctors right now,” Alexander said.

Tennessee Tech duo 1-2 in scoring

For the first time since 2000-2001, an OVC school has the top two scorers in its own backcourt.

Tennessee Tech guards Belton Rivers (18.9 ppg) and Anthony Fisher (17.8 ppg) are the league’s top two scorers for the first time since Eastern’s Henry Domercant and Kyle Hill accomplished the feat in 2000-2001.

“When our guards play well, it gives us our best opportunity to win usually,” said Tennessee Tech head coach Mike Sutton.

The Golden Eagles travel to Eastern Thursday night for a rematch with the Panthers. Eastern was able to hold Rivers and Fisher to eight of 26 from the field and three of 18 from beyond the three-point arc in its 74-69 win at Cookeville, Tenn., on Dec. 7.

“They have a backcourt where an individual can carry them but if both have it going, they’re as good as any mid major team in the country,” Southeast Missouri head coach Scott Edgar said. “They are the kinds of guards that can survive a first round (NCAA) Tournament upset.”

Loos becomes winningest Austin Peay head coach

Austin Peay’s 68-67 win Saturday night against Southeast Missouri gave Dave Loos his APSU record 259th victory, moving him to third all-time in OVC history.

The four-time OVC coach of the year has accumulated two losing seasons since 2000 and has the longest tenure of any coach in the league.

“He is the dean of the conference and (I) couldn’t be happier for him,” said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette said.

The Governors will host Murray State tonight on ESPNU, matching rival schools fighting for the top spot in the league.

“It’s a big week for our program with a big rivalry game and an added dimension of a national broadcast,” Loos said.