Murray State University Athletics
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Home Sweet Home - MSU Returns To Battle TSU
1/4/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Tennessee State
(5-7) (2-1 OVC)
at
Murray State
(5-7) (2-3 OVC)
Sat. 7:30 p.m.
Regional Special
Events Center
Murray, Ky.
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It has been a long time between now and the Murray State Racers last home game, almost a month in fact since the Racers defeated Morehead State at the Regional Special Events Center 63-44 on Dec. 8.
Saturday the Racers host the Tennessee State Tigers in a 7:30 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference match up that has everyone wondering if the 2007-08 series will be like the pair of wild games they played last season. In the 2006-07 season, the Racers erased an 18-point deficit in the early second half and beat the Tigers in Nashville at the Gentry Center 86-83 in overtime. The Tigers returned the favor later by beating the Racers 64-60 in overtime at the RSEC marking TSU's first win in Murray in more than 10 years.
Saturday's game finds the Racers in a bit of a tailspin having lost four straight since that controversial officials call and resulting 65-64 loss at Samford Dec. 20. The Racers showed signs of getting back to their former ways by their effort Thursday at Eastern Illinois. Twice the Racers fought back from 12 points down and forced overtime when Tyler Holloway drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer.
MSU couldn't pull it out and dropped to 2-3 in the OVC with an 83-80 loss. MSU hasn't lost five straight since January of 1992.
MSU is starting 2008 with four games in one week.The basketball blitz continues with a Monday road game against Southeast Missouri State. MSU is back at home Thursday Jan. 10. against Austin Peay.
The Racers are 4-1 at the Regional Special Events Center this season and 109-22 (832) in their 10th season in the building. MSU had fashioned a mark of 74-14 (.840) against OVC opponents. Their only loss at home came against Eastern Kentucky 59-58 Dec. 5th.
GAME NOTES
RANKING THE FIELD:
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is one of the formulas used by the NCAA in rate college basketball. There are currently 341 teams in NCAA D-I. The rankings do not count wins or losses against non-D-I teams. As of Jan. 1.RANK TEAM REC
90 Austin Peay 8-6
114 Western Kentucky 8-4
128 Chattanooga 7-5
148 Rider 8-5
155 Mississippi State 8-5
160 Belmont 8-6
184 Tennessee State 3-7
192 SE Missouri State 8-5
231 Eastern Kentucky 4-7
259 Samford 4-6
267 UT-Martin 3-9
307 Morehead State 3-8
310 Arkansas State 4-7
315 Murray State 4-7
325 Tennessee Tech 2-10
340 Eastern Illinois 1-11
341 Jacksonville State 0-10
WHAT MIGHT'VE BEEN:
The Racers are only a few ticks on the clock from being 5-0 in the OVC, but instead are 2-3 with three tough losses. MSU lost at home Dec. 5 on a shot with 3.9 seconds left with Eastern Kentucky. Dec. 20, the Racers were the vicitm of that strange finish at Samford in a 65-54 loss and then let an overtime game slip away at Eastern Illinois 83-80.CAREER NUMBERS:
Tyler Holloway is one his way to becoming the 34th member of the MSU 1,000-Point club. He has 613 points. Assuming he plays at least 15 games yet this season and another 29 when he is a senior in 2008-09, he'll make it given his scoring history.Danero Thomas is only 40 games into his MSU career but has already scored 292 points.
Marvin Williams grabbed his 100th career rebound Dec. 20 at Samford.
Bruce Carter needs only 22 points to reach 500 career points at MSU.
SPEAKING OF STREAKS:
Over the years, the Racers have put together some outstanding streaks. But even as good as the Racers have been, they still have a bad streak like all teams do. With a win over Tennessee State, MSU will avoid their first five-game losing streak since the 1991-92 season when they went from Dec. 21, 1991 to Jan. 11, 1992 without a win when they were coached by Scott Edgar. The Racers three-game losing streak in OVC games is also rare. Not since 2002 have the Racers lost three straight conference games and haven't dropped four straight since 1987 when MSU lost to Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, and Middle Tennessee.HOLLOWAY AND THE THREE:
Take a look at the all-time three point shooters at Murray State and how Tyler Holloway ranks. At the moment he has attempted an even 300 in his career and has hit 117.MSU CAREER MADE 3-POINT SHOTS
2. Don Mann 1986-89 204
3. Justin Burdine 1998-02 198
4. Marcus Brown 1993-96 173
Paul King 1987-91 173
6. Chris Shumate 1999-04 170
7. Rick Jones 2002-04 133
8. Antoine Whelchel 2000-04 124
9. William Moore 1994-95 123
10. Tyler Holloway 2005- 117
11. Aaron Page 1996-00 107
12. Aubrey Reese 1997-00 105
MSU CAREER 3-POINT PERCENTAGE
2. Don Mann 1986-89 .421
3. Cedric Gumm 1990-94 .418
4. Chris Shumate 1999-04 .412
5. De'Teri Mayes 1996-98 .411
6. Terence Brooks 1987-89 .404
7. William Moore 1994-95 .403
8. Paul King 1987-91 .402
9. Rick Jones 2002-04 .393
10. Tyler Holloway 2005- .390
11. Justin Burdine 1998-02 .349
FREE THROW STREAK:
Tyler Holloway is tied for the lead in free throw shooting in OVC games making 12-of-12 so far. He was 4-of-4 at EIU and has now made 15 straight from the line, the best streak of the season for MSU. In case you're wondering, the MSU record for consecutive made free throws is 33. Greg Coble did it during the 1989-90 season. Antonio Henderson was the last to make a serious run at the title in the 2001-02 season when he made 29 straight. Henderson's streak began on Jan. 5th against Gardner-Webb and ended Feb. 16th against SEMO. Holloway's streak began Nov. 26th against Arkansas State.DISPUTED FINISH:
When the Racers played at Samford Dec. 20, little did they know by the end of the night they would be part of one of the most controversial finishes in OVC history. It was a perfect storm of events that led to the final play. With 36 seconds remaining and the Racers in front by four points. they fouled Trey Montgomery who hit his three-pointer and made the free throw for a rare four-point play. After making two clutch free throws with 2.7 seconds left for a two-point MSU lead, Bruce Carter stole the inbounds pass and thought he had dribbled out the clock. Officials put four-tenths of a second on the clock, leading to Travis Peterson's heroics. Peterson caught the inbounds pass and drilled a three for the apparent game winner, only there was one important thing that didn't happen....the clock never started! After a long huddle, the officials counted the shot for a 65-64 Samford win. Some say there will forever be time left because the horn never sounded. Less than 24 hours later, the OVC mandated replay monitors for all league members be installed by Jan. 5th.CLOSE TO 30:
Tyler Holloway has come very close twice to hitting the 30 point mark in a single game. His 26 on Nov. 26 against Arkansas State was three off his career best of 29 that came last January at Tennessee State. MSU's last 30 point night was 78 games ago on Jan. 6, 2005 when Shawn Witherspoon netted 33 against Morehead State.SIX THREES:
Holloway's six three point baskets against ASU was a career-high. The last MSU player to hit that number was Darnell Hopkins who went 6-of-6 against Eastern Illinois at the RSEC on Jan. 9, 2006.IF THERE IS OT:
MSU played its first overtime game this season Jan. 3rd at Eastern Illinois in an 83-80 loss. MSU played four last season going 2-2. MSU is 21-14 in overtime games since 1983. The Racers have played 11 overtime games in OVC play since 2000 and are 5-7.MSU's most famous overtime game came in 1990 against Michigan State in Knoxville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That game is still the only time a #16 seed has taken a #1 seed into overtime.
HOME COOKIN:
With the Racers' win over Rider Nov. 10, they have now won 18 straight home openers and have fashioned quite a home court advantage at the RSEC. In its 10th season of games, MSU is 109-22 for a winning percentage of .832.Here is how the Racers compare with the rest of the teams in the OVC since the 2003-04 season.
Team 07-08 Since 03-04 Pct.
Murray State 4-1 51-12 .809
Austin Peay 3-1 46-11 .807
Eastern KY 5-2 45-15 .750
Samford 4-3 42-16 .724
Tennessee St. 2-1 32-20 .615
Jacksonville St. 2-3 36-24 .600
SE Missouri St. 6-0 34-25 .576
Morehead St. 4-0 32-25 .561
UT-Martin 3-2 29-24 .547
Eastern Illinois 2-3 25-31 .446 WHAT A STREAK: One story line in the 07-08 season will be Murray State's push to ensure another winning season. MSU currently has 20 straight years of winning hoops which is tied for fourth in the nation with Connecticut. The Racers share the same neighborhood with first place Syracuse (37 years), Oklahoma (27 years) and Kansas (24 years). MSU hasn't had a losing season since the 1986-87 campaign.
Here is a look at the best of the best.
CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASONS
2. Oklahoma 27
3. Kansas 24
4. MURRAY STATE 20
Connecticut 20
6. Oklahoma State 19
7. Kentucky 17
8. Coll. of Charleston 16
Gonzaga 16
10. Maryland 14
Stanford 14
Utah State 14
14. Duke 12
15. Michigan State 11
UNLV 11
Xavier 11
18. Creighton 10 WHISTLE HAPPY: The Racers were whistled for 29 fouls in their season opener against Rider on Nov. 10. It was the second most fouls called on MSU in the 10 years of play in the RSEC. The record was set in MSU's battle with Austin Peay in 2001 when the Racers were called for 32 fouls. The record for an opponent in the RSEC is 36 for Eastern Kentucky in 2003.
FRALIEX REDSHIRTING:
MSU freshman Matt Fraliex will sit out this season as a redshirt after coming to the Racers as one of the most prolific high school players in Kentucky prep history. He averaged 26.2 points per game as a junior and 32.3 as a senior and was named Kentucky All-State in last two seasons at Caldwell County. Finished his career at Caldwell County with 2,941 points and set a single season mark with 892 points.ASKA SIGNS WITH MSU:
6-7 Ivan Aska signed in November and will join the Racers for the 2008-09 season as a freshman. Aska is a senior at Boyd Anderson High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds per game last season as a junior.Here are the top signings at each position in the OVC according to Rivals.com
Point guard:
Tyrone Caldwell, APSUShooting guard: Zach Bailey, TTU
Small forward: Tyler McDaniels, TTU
Power forward: Ivan Aska, MSU
Center: None
SANDERS EARNS OVC HONOR:
MSU junior Tarod Sanders was voted by the league's sports information directors as the OVC's Newcomer of the Week Nov. 12. Sanders came off the bench and supplied great defense and 10 points in the Racers' 66-65 win over Rider.SIMMONS JOINS TEAM:
Picasso Simmons of Gallatin, Tenn. has joined the MSU team as a walk-on student-athlete. He'll wear number 14.MILES JOINS MSU:
Guard Isaac Miles transferred to Murray State last summer after an outstanding freshman season at Creighton. He will sit out the 2007-08 season under NCAA transfer guidelines and be eligible to play as a sophomore in 2008-09. In his first season at Creighton in 2006-07 he averaged 6.1 points per game along with 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists and was selected as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference's All-Freshman team.THEY'RE BACK:
For only the sixth time since 1978, all 11 head coaches return in OVC men's basketball. The other years in which every coach returned were 1978-79, 1993-94, 1994-95, 2001-02 and 2004-05.DEFENSE SHINES:
MSU wants to have a great defense this season.In 2006-07 the Racers led the OVC in defensive field goal percentage when they held opponents to .411 from the field and they were also first in three-point defense, opponents only managed to shoot .307.OVC TOURNAMENT:
The 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Men's & Women's Tournaments will be held March 4, 7-8. The first round games will be held at campus sites (top four seeds on each side) on Tuesday, March 4. Those games can be seen live on OVCSports.TV.The winners of those games will shift to historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Tenn. for the semifinals and finals. The men's semifinals will be held on Friday, March 7 at 6 and 8 p.m. and televised on ESPNU with the championship game on Saturday, March 8 at 4 p.m. and televised live on ESPN2 (note, this is a change from the original time announced).The women's semifinals are set for 12 and 2 p.m. on March 7th (televised on OVCSports.TV) and the women's championship game is set for March 8 at 11 a.m. and will be televised on Comcast/Charter SportsSoutheast (CSS).
This marks the 14th time in 15 years that the tournament has been held in Nashville and the fifth time it will take place in Municipal. The event was also held there in 1989, 1994, 1995 and 2004.
OVC VIDEO STREAMING:
OVC member institutions received great reviews in the first year of offering live streaming video. All OVC games and many out of conference games are again offered to fans and media with live video and home team announcers audio at www.ovcsports.tv.LIVE AUDIO:
All MSU games can be heard on the Racer Radio network and also on GoRacers.com. Neal Bradley handles the play by play with Josh Perigo and Nathan Higdon sharing analyst duties.
