Murray State University Athletics
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MSU Hits The Road To Face East Tennessee State
12/10/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 9
Murray State
7-1
at
East Tennessee State
4-5
Saturday 3:00 p.m. CST
Memorial Center
Johnson City, Tenn.
SERIES WITH FORMER OVC RIVAL RENEWED: The Murray State Racers carry a seven-game winning streak into their ninth game of the season against East Tennessee State when they play Saturday at 3 p.m. central time at Memorial Center in Johnson City, Tenn. The Racers lead the all-time series with the Buccaneers , but the two haven't played since 1978 when ETSU was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.
RACERS ON A ROLL: The Racers enter the contest on a seven-game winning streak that started with the second game of the season against UMSL. MSU hasn't lost since a 75-70 heartbreaker in the opener Nov. 9 against No. 12 California. With another win, Billy Kennedy will match the longest winning streak in his 12 seasons as a head coach. In the 2007-08 season, MSU had an eight-game win streak. MSU's program record of 16 straight wins was set in the 1936 season. Billy Kennedy will be facing ETSU for the first time in his career.
LONG ROAD TRIP COMING: The Racers are on the first segment of a two-game road trip that will see them cover more than 1,600 miles once they return home from Ruston, La. after playing Louisiana Tech Tuesday. One eye-opening fact for this trip is that ETSU, Louisiana Tech and the Racers are all undefeated at home so far this season.
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MSU IS THE NAME - DEFENSE IS THE GAME: Through eight games, the Racers are the best in the OVC in scoring (82.1) and scoring defense (58.6). MSU's scoring margin average of +23.5 is also tops in the OVC. And it's no surprise the Racers are again the best in the league in field goal defense and three-point defense. MSU is holding teams to (.377) from the field and (.297) from three-point range. MSU is also the best in blocked shots, steals, assists and turnover margin. Racer seniors Danero Thomas and Tony Easley are a big part of MSU's passion for defense. Thomas is is the leader in the OVC in steals among active players and Easley is third among OVC shot blockers.
The Racers have shot better than 50 percent in six of eight games this season and the best any team has shot against them was Eastern Kentucky's 47 percent Dec. 3. MSU has held five opponents this season under 38 percent from the field.
