The Mississippi 8 Conference title race is tightening as the regular season approaches the finish line. Rogers, last season's conference champion, is half a game behind Princeton but could move to first place with a win on Tuesday.
The Royals (14-8, 7-2) have recovered from a 2-5 start to the season and have not lost consecutive games since Dec. 30. Senior forward Jordan Belka (23.2 ppg, 9 rpg) sets the pace for Rogers' offense, and he's helped anchor a defense that has given up 70 or more points just three times this season. If Belka and Rogers are able to keep a potent Princeton offense in check, the Royals will have an excellent chance of coming out as winners.
The Tigers had not had a winning season since 2011-12, but that streak has been resoundingly snapped. Princeton (17-6, 8-2) did not lose a game in 2018 until falling in three straight to begin February. The Tigers recovered well and now ride a three-game winning streak, and a win against Rogers would give Princeton complete control of its conference fate with only two conference contests left in the season.
Jon Stimmler (18 ppg), Adam Williams (17 ppg) and James Flicek (13.4 ppg) spearhead a Tigers offense that has not scored fewer than 60 points this season and has six times bested the Royals' season-high 82 points. If Princeton can keep the offense rolling, the Tigers can pull away from Rogers and toward the conference title.