Around the Ohio Valley Conference - Feb. 1

Austin Peay
This offseason for former APSU baseball player, A.J. Ellis, has been an eventful one. The current Dodgers catcher followed the season with knee surgery, as well as a new addition to family in the form of a baby girl. What Ellis wasn’t expecting was for his new daughter to be born in the passenger seat of his in-laws car.

Belmont
The Bruin men’s basketball team is continuing a dominant first season in the OVC after defeating Morehead State in a home game Thursday evening. The team is now 9 – 0 in conference and has a 2.5 game lead over Tennessee State in the East Division.

Eastern Illinois
In the midst of basketball season, the Panthers football team continues to make news. Head football Coach Dino Babers has announced the new offensive line coach with Matt Mattox. Mattox’s playing days were spent under Art Briles at Houston and also served as a graduate assistant with the team. He has also spent 6 years in the junior college ranks coaching offensive line and tight ends.

Eastern Kentucky
The Colonel Student Athlete Advisory Committee is raising money for “Hoops for Heroes.” An initiative set forth by the OVC to send veterans to the OVC basketball tournament in Nashville. To raise money, the student athletes are holding a talent show called “Jock’n Roll” on February 12 in the Brock Auditorium at 9 p.m.

Jacksonville State
The Gamecock softball team will be hosting its annual Fan Day on Sunday, February 3 at University Field. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and admission is free for all fans. The day will be filled with many giveaways including snack, free t-shirts, as well as all members of the team being available for autographs throughout the day.

Morehead State
Kenneth Faried, former Morehead State star and current Denver Nugget, has been named to the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, Texas. Faried is averaging 11.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and just over a steal per game this season.

Murray State
Racer golfer, Patrick Newcomb, has been selected to compete in the Jones Cup Invitational February 1-3 in Sea Island, Georgia. In December, Newcomb was invited to play in the South Beach International Amateur in Miami, Florida. After this tournament he will return to MSU to prepare for the Spring portion of the 2012-13 schedule with his teammates, which begins in early March.

Southeast Missouri 
The Redhawks guard, Nick Niemczyk, has earned First-Team All Capital One Academic All-District honors, as he was selected by the College Sports Information Directors America on Thursday. Niemczyk earned a 3.8 GPA in Higher Education as a graduated school student. He was one of two OVC players honored.

SIUE
Raven Berry led the Cougars to a victory over Southeast Missouri on Monday, but that wasn’t all she accomplished. The senior scored a career-high 28 points, and set a career rebounding record for the Cougars with 928 rebounds. Berry also recorded a double-double on the evening, as she grabbed 13 rebounds for the game.

Tennessee State
Earlier this week, the Tiger head basketball coach, Travis Williams, spoke to Brick Church Middle School about his upbringing and the tough times he had growing up. The message was to inspire the kids, and show they can be successful now matter what their situation is if they make the right decisions. "When I was growing up, I wish I had the opportunity for somebody to give me advice. I feel blessed to be given the opportunity to try and help these kids," Williams said.

Tennessee Tech
Golden Eagle receiver, Da’Rick Rogers, has earned the CFPA Elite Wide Receiver Award for his performance over the last two seasons. In 2012, Rogers caught 61 passes for 893 yards while tying a school record for 10 touchdowns in a season. In a game against Southeast Missouri he caught 18 passes for 303 yards, which were school records in each category.

UT Martin
Kristen Lackey, a member of the Skyhawk softball team, was named Miss UTM last Saturday night, which earns her the opportunity to compete in the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant later this year in Jackson. Lackey is a junior majoring in education.