Murray State University Athletics
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Racers Look for Better Times Against Eagles
2/8/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Murray State
(14-9) (10-5 OVC)
at
Morehead State
(12-10) (9-5 OVC)
Saturday 3:15 p.m.
Johnson Arena
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The Murray State Racers travel to Morehead State for a Saturday 3:15 p.m. CST tip at Johnson Arena. The Racers are coming off a puzzling 60-47 loss Thursday at Eastern Kentucky, a game in which MSU went the last 10 minutes of the first half with no points, while EKU only scored three. MSU may have been able to recover, but they were down by 10 when the scoring drought occurred and couldn't mount an effective comeback in the second half getting no closer than 10 points. The Racers are 14-9 overall and 10-5, good for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The second Racers-Eagles game of the season comes at a critical time. MSU is only a half game in front of the Eagles who are 12-10 overall and 9-5 in the OVC after a home 75-63 win over Southeast Missouri. The Eagles finished the game on a 14-2 run and got a career-high 24 points from Jamyron Steward. The Racers have won nine straight over Morehead State including four straight at Johnson Arena. MSU's last loss at Morehead State was a 77-74 game in 2003. In their first meeting of the season on Dec. 8, the Racers won at the Regional Special Events Center 63-44.
It's no coincidence when the Racers protect and share the basketball, their chances of winning are better. In Murray State's 15 OVC games, they've had a positive assist-turnover ratio in all 10 wins, and a negative ratio in all five losses. The Racers continue to lead the league in what might be called a "Grand Slam" of statistics. MSU ranks first in field goal percentage (.495), field goal defense (.421), three-point percentage (.407), and three-point defense (.336). Murray State is also one of the best teams from the free throw line where they're ranked second in the OVC with a rate of nearly 75 percent.
Four of the Racers' OVC losses have been very close games. Two of the losses were in overtime: Jan. 3, MSU dropped an 82-80 game at Eastern Illinois, and again Jan. 31 at Austin Peay 92-87. In December, MSU had a late lead slip away in a 59-58 loss to Eastern Kentucky. The most hurtful loss came Dec. 20 when Samford hit a three-pointer for a 65-64 win in a game that was controversial because the clock never started on the final play. These four losses have come by a total of 10 points.
