Racers Chase Postseason Prospects At EIU

Thursday, February 25

Charleston, Ill.

8:30 p.m.

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

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Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/22/2016 5:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Murray State Notes I EIU Notes I Live AudioI Live Stats

MURRAY STATE RACERS (15-12, 9-5 OHIO VALLEY)
Head Coach: Matt McMahon (Appalachian State, 2000)
Career Record: 15-12 (1st season) • At MSU: Same • OVC: 9-5

EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS (12-16, 8-7 OHIO VALLEY)
Head Coach: Jay Spoonhour (Pittsburg State, 1994)
Career Record: 158-103 (8th season) • At EIU: 52-71 (4th season) • OVC: 30-33

Date-Time: Feb. 25 - 8:30 p.m. CT (8:35 TV Tip)
Site: Charleston, Ill. Arena: Lantz Arena
TV: CBS Sports Network - Jason Horowitz & Marc Jackson Radio: Racer Radio - WFGE 103.7 FM Neal Bradley & Kenny Roth
Web Streaming: Audio: GoRacers.com & Froggy103.com Video: None
Live Stats: EIUPanthers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersHoops @RacerDave23

Series
Overall: Racers lead 41-9 Home: Racers lead 23-2 Away: Racers lead 16-6 Neutral: Racers lead 2-1
OVC: Racers lead 34-6 OVC Tournament: Racers lead 4-1
Last Meeting: Jan. 21 home Racers won 68-58 First Meeting: 1981 home Racers won 71-70

The Murray State Racers enter the final week of the regular season with a clear path to the championship of the Ohio Valley Conference's West Division. It starts with a matchup on the road Thursday against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena in Charleston, Ill. The late tip of 8:35 p.m. will be see on the CBS Sports Network. There will be no online streaming video for this game.

All Murray State games are heard over free radio on WFGE Froggy 103.7 FM and online at Froggy103.com and GoRacers.com. Neal Bradley is in his 25th season as the Voice of the Racers. Former MSU assistant coach Kenny Roth provides analysis and commentary.

The week that lay ahead for the Racers offers a simple goal. If MSU can win at EIU and at home Saturday against UT Martin, they'll be OVC West Division champions and become the No. 2 in next week's OVC Tournament in Nashville. With it, they'll get a double-bye and not have to play until the semifinals. If MSU ends up in a tie with the Skyhawks, the likely scenario is that they lose a tiebreaker on the fact they split two games with Austin Peay, while UTM swept the Govs this season.

The Racers won the first meeting with EIU at home 68-58 (Jan. 21). MSU has won their last two games at EIU since a loss in 2013.

Murray State picked the right time to be playing their best ball of the season. The Racers are a season-high three games about the .500 mark and have won 7-of-9 in the OVC after starting 2-3. The Racers are 9-5 in league play with a three-game win streak.

MSU's Jeffery Moss has provided just what you want from a senior that will be making his 97th consecutive start at EIU. He's scored 20-plus points in four of the last five games including a 22-point effort in MSU's 76-60 road win Saturday at Austin Peay. Moss scored 19 in the second half and hit 5-of-7 from the 3-point line. In the last five games, Moss is the hottest 3-point marksman in the OVC hitting 23-of-39 attempts for a blistering clip of 59 percent.

A year ago, the scene at Lantz Arena was the best atmosphere of the season (Jan. 22, 2015). It was a sellout when the Panthers (6-0) met the Racers (5-0). MSU came away with a 77-62 win. This time, there is more on the line as both teams need this game that comes in the final week of the regular season.

Saturday, the Racers have Senior Day when they host UT Martin at the CFSB Center at 7 p.m.