Murray State University Athletics
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MSU Looks For Ninth Straight Win At Louisiana Tech
12/15/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 10
Murray State
8-1
at
Louisiana Tech
8-2
Tuesday 7:00 p.m. CST
Thomas Assembly Center
Ruston, La.
The Murray State Racers carry an eight-game winning streak into their 10th game of the season against Louisiana Tech when they play Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. The Racers and Bulldogs faced off last season in Murray, Ky., in the ESPNU BracketBuster game where MSU dropped a 69-60 game. The Racers are 8-1 after posting a 61-57 win Saturday at East Tennessee State. Ivan Aska led the way for MSU with 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Tech defeated Centenary 102-96 in double-overtime Saturday. The Bulldogs are 8-2 overall.
The Racers' winning streak that started with the second game of the season against UMSL, has now reached eight. MSU hasn't lost since a 75-70 heartbreaker in the opener Nov. 9 against No. 12 California. The current streak matches the longest for head coach Billy Kennedy 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.
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The Racers are on the second segment of a two-game road trip that will see them cover more than 1,600 miles once they return home from Ruston, La. on Wednesday. The round trip will cover 1,600 miles. Once the Racers return home, they'll prepare for a 2 p.m. tip Saturday afternoon at the Regional Special Events Center against Chattanooga.
Through nine games, the Racers are the best in the OVC in scoring (79.8) and scoring defense (58.4). MSU's scoring margin average of +21.3 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 (.298) 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 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 nine games this season and the best any team has shot against them was Eastern Kentucky's 47 percent Dec. 3. MSU has held six opponents this season under 38 percent from the field including ETSU last Saturday.
