Murray State University Athletics
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Back To The Quest - Racers Host UTM In OVC Clash
1/3/2010 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 14
UT Martin
2-9 (0-2 OVC)
at
Murray State
10-3 (2-0 OVC)
Monday 7:30 p.m.
RSEC
Murray, Ky.
The Murray State Racers play their first game of 2010 when the UT Martin Skyhawks visit the Regional Special Events Center Monday. MSU is coming off an 82-51 win last Wednesday on the road against incoming OVC member SIU Edwardsville, a game in which freshman Isaiah Canaan came off the bench and hit all of his shots and free throws for a game-high 17 points as the Racers improved to 3-3 on the road this season. MSU returns to the RSEC for the first time since a Dec. 19 win over Chattanooga (73-62) where they pushed their home win streak to nine straight.
MSU is 5-0 on their home floor this season. MSU's 10 wins in 13 games makes them the fastest Racer squad to 10 since the 2003-04 team took only 11 games to get there.
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TALKING NUMBERS: Several Murray State players are chasing career milestones as they play UTM. Danero Thomas already joined the MSU 1000-Point Club earlier this season, but is also one rebound from 400 and 11 from 150 assists. Tony Easley is nine points from reaching 700 and 14 from getting to 500 rebounds. Ivan Aska and Isacc Miles are closing on 500 points as Aska has 471 and Miles 452. Isacc is also closing on 200 career assists, he has 160.
RSEC-THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: MSU is 95-15 (.863) all-time in OVC games in the RSEC and 41-10 (.803) against non-league opponents, the overall mark is 136-25 (.844). The Racers are 39-9 (.780) at home in the Billy Kennedy era. MSU has a nine-game win streak coming into the UTM game. Kansas has the nation's longest streak at 50. MSU has never lost at home to the Skyhawks in 19 all-time meetings, including 12 games in the RSEC.
SCOUTING UTM: The Skyhawks recorded a win in their last time out last Wednesday at home against Westminster in a 71-59 score. UTM was led by Reuben Clayton's 20 points, while MJ Brown added 14, with 13 coming from Benzor Simmons and 11 from Terrance Coleman. The Skyhawks are 0-6 this season on the road. Simmons is UTM's top scorer with 19.2 per game, while Rueben Clayton scores 14.9 and Marquis Weddle 14.5. UTM is shooting 38 percent from the field this season and 30 percent from three-point range.
PERFECTO: Isaiah Canaan's perfect 6-of-6 shooting game against SIUE (Dec. 30) was the second great night for a MSU player this season. Ivan Aska was 9-of-9 against UMSL (Nov. 14). MSU's program record is held by Cuthbert Victor who was 11-of-11 against Tennessee State in 2001.
MARGIN OF VICTORY: The Racers have led the OVC all season in margin of victory. In fact, MSU has six wins this season of 20 points or more with four coming against NCAA DI squads. Those wins are: James Madison 71-43 (Nov. 20), North Carolina Central 84-61 (Nov. 22), Morehead State 86-56 (Dec. 5) and SIUE 82-51 (Dec. 30).
IMPRESSIVE STREAKS: Tony Easley has a streak of 12 straight games in which he has recorded a blocked shot. Isaiah Canaan also has a 12-game streak with a three-point basket.
MAGIC NUMBER 80 & 60: The Racers do best when they either go high or keep the opponent low. MSU is 6-1 this season when they score 80 points or more and 22-5 in the Billy Kennedy era. When MSU holds opponents to 60 points or less, they're 7-0 this season and 32-5 with Coach Kennedy.
EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES: The Racers have 10 players averaging 10 minutes of playing time per game and they have also spread the scoring around as seven different players have been the leading scorer in a game this season.
