Murray State University Athletics
Racers Meet Governors For 105th Time
1/9/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Austin Peay
(10-6) 6-0 OVC)
at
Murray State
(7-7) (4-3 OVC)
Thursday 7:30 p.m.
Regional Special
Events Center
Murray, Ky.
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Overall: Racers lead 68-36
@ Murray: Racers lead 40-8
@ Clarksville: Governors lead 25-22
Neutral: Racers lead 6-3
OVC Tournament: Racers lead 8-5
First Meeting: 1941, Racers won at Clarksville 53-43
Last Meeting: Last Feb. 1st, Racers won 77-68 in Murray
Billy Kennedy vs APSU: 1-1
Dave Loos vs MUR: 14-25
The Murray State Racers meet the Austin Peay Governors in what many believe is the best rivalry in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Thursday 7:30 p.m. game at the Regional Special Events Center marks the 105th meeting between the two and the first of two games this season.
The Racers have suddenly gained a foothold in the conference race with back to back wins. Last Saturday MSU defeated Tennessee State at home 92-88, a game that saw the Racers build a 20 point lead and hold off a furious TSU rally. Monday the Racers hit the accelerator at tip off at Southeast Missouri and didn't let off until they had a 28 point win, 79-61. Bruce Carter scored 22 points against the Redhawks, but more importantly, the Racers played great defense at SEMO in holding the Redhawks to a season low 25 precent from the field.
A week ago, the Racers had just lost their fourth straight game, an overtime 83-80 loss at Eastern Illinois. What a difference a week makes as the Racers now face the league favorite Governors.
Austin Peay, last year's OVC regular season champion and this season's pre-season favorite has breezed through six league games. The closest contest so far for APSU was an overtime 90-85 win at UT-Martin Jan. 3. Drake Reed, the OVC's most valuable player last season is leading the way with 15.8 ppg, while Fernandez Lockett scores 11.2 and Todd Babbington scores 10.4.
The Racers are 5-1 at the RSEC this season and 110-22 (.833) in their 10th season in the building. MSU has fashioned a mark of 75-14 (.842) against OVC opponents. Their only loss at home came against Eastern Kentucky 59-58 Dec. 5th. MSU is at the end of four games in one week. MSU's next contest is a home game with non-conference foe Indiana-South Bend Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Racers next OVC game is Jan. 19 at UT-Martin.
GAME NOTES
HITTING FREE THROWS:
The Racers have moved from 138th in the nation to 118 in the last two weeks in free throw shooting thanks to making 58-of-84 over the last four games. MSU is 204-293 .696 overall this season.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
119 Chattanooga 8-5
126 Austin Peay 10-6
127 Mississippi State 9-5
158 Rider 8-6
160 Belmont 8-7
220 SE Missouri State 9-9
222 UT-Martin 5-9
234 Tennessee State 3-9
257 Eastern Kentucky 4-8
265 Murray State 6-7
268 Arkansas State 5-7
283 Samford 5-7
305 Tennessee Tech 4-10
308 Morehead State 3-9
340 Eastern Illinois 1-13
341 Jacksonville State 0-12
A WIN MEANS:
The Racers will have three straight home wins since losing here to Eastern Kentucky Dec. 5. MSU will be 8-7 overall and 5-3 in the OVC. The Racers will lead the all-time series with APSU 69-36, and have a 41-8 mark against them at home. MSU will have won back to back games against APSU and six of the last seven against the Govs. MSU's all-time record in the RSEC will be 111-22 and 76-14 in OVC games. Billy Kennedy will have a career mark of 128-145 and 24-21 at MSU.A LOSS MEANS:
The Racers will be 7-8 and 4-4 in the OVC. MSU will be 5-2 at the RSEC this season. Their record against APSU will drop to 68-37. MSU's all-time record in the RSEC will be 110-23 and 75-15 in OVC games. Billy Kennedy will have a career mark of 127-146 and 23-22 at MSU.HALF TIME STAT:
Getting the lead at half time is big for the Racers. This season they are 7-1 when leading at the break and 0-6 when they trail.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 305 in his career and has hit 121.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- 121
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
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.The Racers have more wins since 2003-04 than any other OVC team with 52. That total is one better than Austin Peay.
FREE THROW STREAK: Tyler Holloway's free throw shooting streak reached 19 overall and 16 straight in OVC games before he missed with 1:47 left Jan. 5th at home against Tennessee State. Greg Coble's 1990 MSU record 33 consecutive made free throws is safe again. Holloway's run was the best since Antonio Henderson made 29 straight in the 2001-02 season.CLOSE CALLS:
The Racers are only a few ticks on the clock from being better off in the OVC, but have three tough losses by a combined five points. MSU lost at home Dec. 5 on a three-pointer 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 on Jan.3rd.CAREER NUMBERS:
Tyler Holloway is one his way to becoming the 34th member of the MSU 1,000-Point club. He has 636 points. Assuming he plays at least 14 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 44 games into his MSU career but has already scored 317 points.
Marvin Williams grabbed his 100th career rebound Dec. 20 at Samford.
Bruce Carter zoomed past the 500 career milestone at SEMO on Jan. 7.
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. The Racers' Jan. 5th win over Tennessee State means MSU hasn't had a five-game losing streak since the 1991-92 season.UNDER THE GUN:
Hitting clutch free throws has been a strength of the Racers' team in 2007-08. Starting with the free throws Kevin Thomas hit in the opener against Rider to win the game with less than two seconds left, all of the MSU players have hit them when they have counted the most. Overall, MSU has hit 25-of-30 (.833) from the line inside two minutes when the leading team is ahead by 10 points or less.
