This is the 4^th longest winning streak in Ohio Valley Conference history. The Racers are now 11-0 in OVC play, giving them at least a 3.5 game lead over every team in the OVC.

The streak is the second longest in the nation behind number one ranked and undefeated Kentucky, who has won 23 straight games.

Only four OVC teams have finished conference play unbeaten. Austin Peay was the last team to finish conference play with a perfect record. The Governors went a perfect 16-0 in the 2003-04 season, in route to a berth in the National Invitational Tournament.

“I always tell the guys to never underestimate winning, and how tough it is to chase a conference championship,” Murray State head coach Steve Prohm said. “They can never underestimate how important it is, and how hard it is, especially at this level.”

The Racers earned more Top-25 votes this week, but were left outside the poll at number 31 in the nation. They face Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Thursday.

Bradshaw named to all-academic team

Belmont’s junior guard Craig Bradshaw was named to the Capitol One Academic All-District team last week. He will the now go on the national ballot for Academic All-American nominations. All players are nominated by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

All players must be either varsity starters or key reserves and have a GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale to qualify for the award. They also have to be at least a sophomore athletically and academically.

Bradshaw currently has a 3.51 GPA in public relations. He says that he wants to pursue an admissions career at a private school.

He has had 49 career double-figure scoring games and averages nearly 18 points a game in three years. He is 17 points away from being the 14^th member of the 1,000 point club at Belmont.

Bradshaw is the 17^th player in Belmont history to be nominated for the all-district team.

The Bruins have lost two in a row and travel to Jacksonville State University on Wednesday.

Newell double-doubles to victory for UT-Martin

University of Tennessee-Martin continued its recent success last week with a pair of victories at Austin Peay and at home against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

The Skyhawks have won four of their last five behind senior guard Marshun Newell who recorded a double-double in both of those wins.

He was named the OVC’s co-player of the week, after tallying a career-high 23 points and 17 rebounds at Austin Peay and scoring 18 accompanied by 10 rebounds against the cougars.

He is the 4^th Skyhawk to be named to an OVC weekly award this season. This was his first of the season. Newell averages 13.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Blake Nash can be reached at 581-2812 or banash@eiu.edu.