The Ohio Valley Conference championships are well underway as basketball fans from around the region make their way to Evansville.
Fans trickled into the Ford Center early Wednesday afternoon to watch the first game of the tournament, Belmont’s women’s basketball team vs. Southeast Missouri.
Among the crowd making its way inside is Jack Benz. Sporting a red Belmont Bruins sweater, he may be the teams’ biggest fan.
He’s been going to the games for a long time. "Ever since I played there in 1955," he says.
He’s a little concerned for the men’s team. He says Murray State and Austin Peay could prove a challenge.
But he's not worried about the women's team. "I don’t have any really concerns about it," he says. "I think they’re going to do well."
He was right; they did do well. The Bruins won the first game of the championship 74-65.
The tournament continues through Saturday. It's only the second time Evansville has hosted the championships.