MOREHEAD, Ky. — The Morehead State men’s basketball team opens its 2014-15 regular season on Friday at Mountain West Conference opponent UNLV. Tip-off from the Thomas & Mack Center is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Eagles and Runnin’ Rebels.
Morehead State finished last season 20-14 overall, 10-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference and played in the College Basketball Invitational. UNLV closed out 20-13 overall and 10-8 in league action. The Eagles have seven all-time NCAA Tournament appearances, while the Runnin’ Rebels own 20.
Both teams played their only exhibition contests on Nov. 5. Morehead State posted an 80-61 victory over St. Catharine (Ky.), while UNLV registered a 100-65 win over Florida National. This will be MSU’s only game on the opening weekend, while UNLV also hosts Sam Houston State on Sunday.
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Ten notes heading into the contest:
EXHIBITION RECAP
Junior Brent Arrington poured in a game-high 24 points, while senior Karam Mashour snatched a game-best 19 rebounds to lift Morehead State team to an 80-61 exhibition victory over St. Catharine (Ky.). The Eagles managed a 43-37 rebounding advantage and 34-20 edge in paint points.
A FAMILIAR PLACE
Karam Mashour will return to his old stomping grounds this week when Morehead State opens its season at UNLV. The 6-foot-6 forward from Israel averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 13 contests for the Runnin’ Rebels in 2011-12. He transferred to MSU prior to the 2012-13 season.
THE RETURNEES
Morehead State returns nine players from the 2013-14 season. The Eagles welcome back four starters in senior Angelo Warner (17.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.0 apg), Brent Arrington (11.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), senior Kareem Storey (6.8 ppg, 5.1 apg) and senior Billy Reader (6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
WE’RE READY TO GO
Morehead State’s roster also features three players who sat out in 2013-14 due to NCAA transfer rules. Senior Jalen Courtney and sophomore Corban Collins joined the Eagles from Southeastern Conference member LSU, while junior Lyonell Gaines came to MSU from IUPUI.
THE NEWCOMERS
Five of Morehead State’s six newcomers will be eligible for the 2014-15 campaign. The list includes a Division I transfer and two junior college products.
THE MAN IN CHARGE
Sean Woods, who has been associated with six Division I men’s basketball programs, is in his third season as the head coach at Morehead State. It is also his seventh season as a Division I head coach and 12th year of coaching at the collegiate level. Woods guided Morehead State to a 20-14 overall record and 10-6 Ohio Valley Conference mark in 2013-14, despite over half the team suffering significant injuries.
WHO ELSE IS ON THE STAFF?
Associate Head Coach Dylan Howard, Assistant Coach Brian “B.J.” Ellis, Graduate Manager Martiese Morones and Graduate Manager Jonathan Mattox all return to the staff in 2014-15. The newcomer is Assistant Coach Preston Spradlin, who was a member of the Kentucky staff from 2009-14.
A CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
Morehead State will play 31 regular-season contests in 2014-15. The slate features 10 dates against postseason teams from a year ago, including American Athletic Conference opponent Cincinnati (Nov. 19) and Big Ten Conference member Ohio State (Dec. 13).
SATISFYING THE HOME CROWD
Morehead State will host 13 regular-season tilts at Johnson Arena, including dates with Southern Conference school East Tennessee State (Dec. 1), Horizon League foe Oakland (Dec. 6) and Atlantic Sun Conference member Northern Kentucky (Dec. 19).
NATIONAL EXPOSURE IS BIG
Morehead State will have at least three nationally-televised contests in 2014-15, plus one regionally-televised affair. The Eagles will face Cincinnati (Nov. 19) on Fox Sports Ohio, Ohio State (Dec. 13) on the Big Ten Network, Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 11) on ESPNU and Tennessee Tech (Feb. 26) on CBS Sports Network. The Eagles can add to their TV schedule if they advance to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
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