It’s go time for Belmont. The winner of the Ohio Valley Tournament is going to the NCAAs; that’s it. The Bruins went 25-3 this season for this moment. They went 17-9-1 ATS and were clearly the best team in OVC play. Belmont won both meetings this season against Jacksonville State, covering one. On Friday Belmont validates its regular-season work and covers.

Belmont center and leading scorer Nick Muszynski (14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is dealing with a foot injury. When he sat out the last two games of the regular season, the Bruins lost. He returned in the first round of the OVC Tournament, scoring five points in 18 minutes. The Gamecocks played the Bruins tough even when Muszysnki was healthy, losing by seven and four. They've won eight of nine and should keep this one tight.