Murray State University Athletics
Big Monday - Racers Host UTM At RSEC
2/22/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 27
UT Martin
(19-7) (12-3 OVC)
at
Murray State
(15-11) (10-5 OVC)
Monday 7:30 p.m.
RSEC
Murray, Ky.
BIG MONDAY SHOWDOWN: It's "Big Monday" when the Murray State Racers host the UT Martin Skyhawks at the Regional Special Events Center at 7:30 p.m. The Racers are 10-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference good for a spot in fourth place, while UTM enters the game in first place at 12-3. The two have already met once this season on Jan. 5 in Martin, Tenn., a game won by the Skyhawks on their home court 75-71. Both teams took a break from OVC play two days ago and participated in the ESPNU BracketBusters series and both took losses on their home court. The Racers lost a game that was a two-point contest with 5:30 left 69-60 to Louisiana Tech, while the Skyhawks were defeated at the buzzer by Missouri State 79-77. The hot Racer in the last week has been Isacc Miles who is 14-22 from the field and 8-13 from three-point range in games against Southeast Missouri and La. Tech. Four Racers are scoring in double-figures in the last week: Miles (19.0), Tyler Holloway (12.5), Ivan Aska (12.5), and Tony Easley (11.5). Easley is coming off posting a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against La. Tech, he was injured and did not play in the first meeting with UTM.
MSU VS UTM FIRST MEETING: The Skyhawks won the first meeting with the Racers Jan. 5 75-71 at the Elam Center in Martin, Tenn. The win snapped a 15-game winning streak for MSU against UTM and a seven-game streak at the Elam Center. The Racers entered the contest ranked fifth nationally in free throw shooting, but hit only 10-20 from the line while UTM was 17-22. MSU's Kevin Thomas led the way with 21 points as the scrappy Racers battled back after trailing 35-31 at the half. Tyler Holloway hit a long jumper with 3:43 left for a 66-65 MSU lead, but it was the last lead the Racers would have. UTM came back to claim the lead for good with two free throws from Reuben Clayton and added a jumper from Djero Riedewald for a 69-66 lead with 2:06 left. Kevin Thomas led the way for MSU with 21 points, while Isacc Miles scored 18 and MSU got 10 each from Jeffery McClain and Tyler Holloway.
RSEC - THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: The Racers are 127-25 (.835) all-time in 11 seasons in the RSEC and are 8-2 this season with losses to Austin Peay and Louisiana Tech. MSU is 89-15 (.855) in OVC games in the RSEC. The Racers are 30-9 (.769) in the Billy Kennedy era in the RSEC.
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SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Racers lead 33-3
@ Murray: Racers lead 18-0
@ Martin: Racers lead 15-3
Neutral: None 0-0
First Meeting: 1979, won by MSU at home 75-65
Last Meeting: Jan. 5, 2009 won by UTM at home 75-71
Trend: The Racers have never lost at home to the Skyhawks
Billy Kennedy vs UTM: 4-1
Television: MSU TV-11 Delayed 10 p.m.
Racer Radio: Froggy 103.7 FM- Neal Bradley & Nathan Higdon
Internet: OVCSports.tv PAY live video
