Murray State University Athletics
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MSU Braces For Showdown With Govs On ESPNU
1/9/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 15
Austin Peay
(8-7) (4-1 OVC)
at
Murray State
(7-7) (2-2 OVC
Saturday 2:00 p.m.
Murray, Ky.
RSEC
The Murray State Racers take on the Austin Peay Governors at the Region Special Events Center in a 2 p.m. game Saturday on ESPNU. MSU is coming off a 75-71 home win Thursday over Tennessee State in what was the Racers' first home game in 40 days. The Racers won on a night when they gave up 52 percent shooting to the Tigers and went 19-of-32 from the free throw line for 59 percent. However, the Racers made up for it by shooting 48 percent on 26-of-54 shooting. MSU also forced TSU into 19 turnovers, which they used to score 19 points, while only giving the ball up 10 times. Ivan Aska and Isacc Miles led the way for MSU each with 17 points, with Danero Thomas adding 14. Tyler Holloway scored six points on two three-pointers and will move into sixth place on the all-time MSU list with his next one. The Racers enter the game tops in the OVC in scoring defense in giving only 68.8 points per game. MSU has won 11 straight OVC home games and their overall home win streak stands at six.
The Governors are the best scoring team in league play at 82.6 and enter today's contest after an 85-76 win Thursday at UT Martin. Wes Channels scored 23 points and Austin Peay ended UT Martin's six-game win streak. The win was APSU's seventh-straight in the series. The Govs shot 55 percent (29 of 53) from the field, including 59 percent (10 of 17) from three-point range. Joining Channels in double-digits was Drake Reed with 17 points and nine rebounds along with Caleb Brown's 13 points and eight assists. The Govs and Racers are first and second in OVC play in field goal percentage: APSU is first at .511 and the Racers are second with .462. APSU is also first in the league hitting 48 percent of their shots from three-point range.
The Regional Special Events Center continues to be a great home court advantage for the Racers who were 14-2 last season and upped their mark in their 11th season of basketball in the RSEC to 123-23 (.842) with a win Thursday over Tennessee State, the Racers are now 18-2 in the last two seasons at the RSEC. Those losses came to Eastern Kentucky and Indiana State. MSU's winning percentage in OVC games at the RSEC is even better at .858 with a mark of 85-14. MSU is 8-1 at the RSEC against the Governors. The game for MSU marks their 100th OVC game at the RSEC. MSU travels to Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech this week and plays at the RSEC Jan. 22 against Eastern Illinois.
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SERIES INFORMATION
Overall: Racers lead 69-37
@ Murray: Racers lead 41-8
@ Clarksville: Govs lead 26-22
Neutral: Racers lead 6-3
OVC: Racers lead 63-36
OVC Tournament: MSU has won six of the last eight, including the last four at the RSEC. APSU's last win at the RSEC came in 2003 by a 66-63 score.
Billy Kennedy vs APSU: 2-2
Television: ESPNU - LIVE 2 p.m. Dave Weekly & Mark Adams
Radio: Froggy 103.7 FM - Neal Bradley & Nathan Higdon
Internet: GoRacers.com FREE live audio & GoRacers.com FREE live stats
