Middle Tennessee (10-10, 5-3 SBC) has won its last two games and is 3-1 on the road in conference play this season. Along with the Blue Raiders, WKU, South Alabama, Troy and Florida Atlantic all sit near the top of the division. This weekend's game will play an important role in deciding the division champ and for seeding in the SBC Tournament in Hot Springs, Ark. in March.

Senior Desmond "Boogie" Yates and Montarrio Haddock both are averaging 14 points per game for the Blue Raiders and will look for a perimeter spark from one of the James' (Washington or Gallman) who both have 28 or more treys this season. It was Washington who helped Middle Tennessee knock off WKU when he hit a three-pointer with 8.1 seconds on the clock to give the Blue Raiders a 47-46 victory on Monday, Jan. 18. Yates was a First Team All-SBC selection each of the past two seasons.

WKU (11-7, 4-3 SBC) will look to rebound and get back to its winning ways after losing back-to-back games for just the third time under Ken McDonald and dropping consecutive Sun Belt Conference games for the first time since the 2004-05 season. The Hilltoppers are 8-1 at home this year and 3-0 in conference action at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Last season's SBC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, AJ Slaughter (16.8 points per game), and Steffon Pettigrew (14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game), will lead the defending SBC East Division Champions against their rivals from Murfreesboro. Pettigrew has reached double figures 15 times in 18 games this season and is averaging 16.3 points per game over his last 10 games. Either Pettigrew or Slaughter has led the Hilltoppers in scoring in 16 of the team's 18 games.

WKU has made a three-pointer in 689-straight games (dating back to the inaugural season for the shot in 1986-87), ranking sixth all-time. They have also won 36 of its last 38 home games since 2007 including a 68-5 mark against Sun Belt opponents this decade. 

Around the SBC
Greg Gantt scored a career-high 29 points and Florida Atlantic overcame an early 10-point deficit, and then held off Arkansas-Little Rock 77-74 on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Eric Tramiel had a career-high 25 points and added 13 rebounds to lead North Texas to an 86-78 victory against South Alabama on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Brandon Reed scored 25 points to lead Arkansas State past FIU 76-61 on Thursday, Jan. 21. The Golden Panthers coach Isiah Thomas returned Thursday following a two-game absence. Thomas left the team after the death of his mother, Mary Thomas, on Jan. 13. The Golden Panthers were 1-1 without Thomas.

After trailing for nearly the entire first half, Louisiana-Lafayette used a 20-point run over a six-minute span in the second half that led to a 70-53 win over New Orleans Thursday evening at the Cajundome.