Murray State University Athletics
Racers Return To Action At Delaware State on Sunday Afternoon
12/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Fresh off a 9-1 start and a short break for the Christmas holiday, the Murray State Racers will return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT against Delaware State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at Memorial Hall in Dover, Del.
The Racers, off to their best start since the 1998-99 MSU squad also opened the season with a 9-1 record, will play their third straight game away from home in the first-ever meeting between MSU and DSU.
MSU, under the direction of first-year head coach Mick Cronin, enter Sunday's game after splitting a pair of games in the Pittsburgh Holiday Hoops Classic at the Petersen Events Center in the Steel City. After falling to nationally-ranked and undefeated Pittsburgh on Dec. 20, the Racers bounced back to earn a 78-64 win over NAIA power Georgetown College on Dec. 22 in their last outing.
"I'm very happy with our 9-1 start, and I'm extremely pleased with the way we rebounded and bounced back from the loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday night," Cronin said. "Our kids handled some criticism from me and my staff, but it was really more coaching than criticism. The kids took the experience and learned from it. I couldn't be happier with our record right now."
The Hornets (1-5) enter the game after just missing on a upset bid at Michigan, falling to the Wolverines 55-50 in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Dec. 22. DSU's lone win came at Wagner College (59-48), a team the Racers also defeated 92-68 back on Nov. 22.
This will be the Hornets first home game of the season after suffering road losses at UNLV (65-59), Georgetown University (63-54), Creighton (77-48) and Nebraska (68-39) prior to the defeat at Michigan.
"This is another tough test for us, especially with it being our first game after the Christmas break," Cronin said. "Every road game tests you, and this one will be no different. They've beaten Wagner already this year, and it'll certainly be a formidable test for us."
MSU, ranked in the top 30 in the Sagarin Computer Rankings and in the top 45 in the RPI according to CBS Sportsline.com, is led by senior forward Cuthbert Victor. Through Thursday's action, Victor, a 6-5 native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, is second in the nation in rebounding at 11.4 rebounds per game and fourth in nation in field goal percentage at 69.0 percent. Victor has also made more field goals (69) than any other top-10 player has attempted.
The game with Delaware State is the third of six straight games away from home for MSU. After Sunday's game in Dover, Del., the Racers take on nationally-ranked Louisville on Jan. 3 in Cronin's return to Freedom Hall where he served as an assistant to Rick Pitino prior to arriving in Murray.
After the matchup with the Cardinals, the Racers open their Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a pair of road games at Morehead State (Jan. 8) and Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 10).
The MSU Sports Network's live broadcasts of the Racers' game at Delaware State can be heard here at GoRacers.com by Clicking Here.
MSU NOTES
-- In their first 10 games of the season, MSU has proven to be a second half (and overtime) team, outscoring its first 10 opponents 46.6 to 33.3 for an average margin of 13.3 points.
-- Thus far in 2003-04, the Racers have a 3-1 record against teams who played in last year's NCAA Tournament. MSU has beaten Wagner, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois, while falling to Pittsburgh.
