Murray State University Athletics
MSU Basketball Teams Rank High In NCAA Free Throws
12/2/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
When the NCAA released its college basketball statistics for the first time this season on Monday for Division I teams, the spotlight was directed at the
The Racer women's team leads the nation in free throw percentage at 83.6, while the MSU men's team is second at 84.7.
THE RACER WOMEN
For the past four seasons, the MSU women's team has knocked down a high percentage of shots from the charity stripe.
Their effort to do so has paid off, as the Racers are ranked No. 1 among teams having made 133-of-159. Air Force is second in the national standings with an 83.1 percent mark.
MSU finished the 2007-08 campaign ranked No. 3 in the same category, while the team was ninth in 2006-07, and 14th in 2005-06.
Individually the Racers have two players ranked in the top-100 in free-throw percentage. Paige Guffey leads the team and the OVC with 97.0 percent and is No. 11 nationally, having missed only one of her 33 attempts. Her twin sister, Amber, is No. 80 after hitting 45-of-52 attempts for a 86.5 percent mark. Amber finished the 2007-08 campaign ranked sixth in the country with an 86.1 free-throw percentage.
THE RACER MEN
MSU's No. 2 ranking is the result of hitting 100-of-118 this season.
The Racers have outscored their opponents by 39 points in five games from the free throw line and have made more free throws than opponents attempted (94).
Jeffery McClain tied a 42-year old MSU single-game record Saturday against St. Catharine when he made 14-of-14 from the line. He currently ranks 12th nationally at 96.3 percent having made 26-of-27. He has made 16 consecutive from the line.
The Racers have two other players hitting more than 90 percent in Kevin Thomas (10-of-11 90.9) and Danero Thomas (9-of-10 90.0).
There is one other team in the country with its men's and women's team ranked first and second in the same category.
OVC OPENERS
The
The double-header at EKU Thursday begins with the women's game at 4:30 p.m. central time, with the men's game set for 6:30 p.m.
The games at
