MOREHEAD, Ky. — The fifth-seeded Morehead State men’s basketball team challenges top-seeded and nationally-ranked Murray State in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The contest, which will be televised by ESPNU and streamed on ESPN3.com, is MSU’s sixth in 12 days.
The Eagles, who have won a season-best five straight games and 10 of their last 13, are 17-16 overall. The Racers, who own the nation’s second-longest winning streak at 24 games, are 26-4 overall. Morehead State finished with a 10-6 conference record in the OVC’s East Division. Murray State ran the table from the West Division..
The Racers own a 107-47 all-time advantage against the Eagles. Murray State has won five straight in the series, including a 66-57 decision on Jan. 3 at Johnson Arena. Morehead State junior Brent Arrington posted a team-high 15 points that evening.
The game will be televised by ESPNU and streamed on ESPN3.com. Rich Hollenberg will call the TV play-by-play, while former NBA player LaPhonso Ellis serves as the analyst. The contest will also be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network. Chuck Mraz will call the radio play-by-play, while Jason Blanton serves as the analyst. The radio network includes WIVY-96.3 FM in Morehead, WCBJ-103.7 in Campton, MSUEagles.com (computers), m.Morehead.EZStream.com (mobile devices) and the Eagle Empire App.
Ten notes heading into the contest:
PLAYING IN THE MUSIC CITY
Fifth-seeded Morehead State has defeated eighth-seeded Southeast Missouri (79-74) and fourth-seeded UT Martin (76-65) in this year’s Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Eagles are making their ninth consecutive appearance in the league’s event.
EXPECT TO WIN IN NASHVILLE
Morehead State has won at least one game in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament seven straight years. The Eagles have not been one-and-done since 2008. MSU is also making its sixth conference semifinals appearance in the past seven campaigns.
FACING A RANKED OPPONENT
Morehead State squares off with top-seeded Murray State on Friday in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Racers, who are 25th in the Associated Press Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches Poll, own the nation’s second-longest winning streak at 24 games and have not lost to an OVC foe since March 7, 2014.
REPRESENTING THE BLUEGRASS
The Ohio Valley Conference’s three Kentucky schools are in the league-tournament semifinals for the first time since 2004. Murray State knocked off Morehead State in one semifinal that year, while Austin Peay topped Eastern Kentucky in the other.
A SUCCESSFUL STRETCH
Morehead State has won a season-best five straight contests and 10 of its last 13. The Eagles have not won six in a row since their NCAA Tournament season in 2010-11.
WE’RE ROLLING NOW
Morehead State ranks fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 71.0 points per game, but has averaged 82.8 points over its last five tilts. The Eagles have drilled 50+ percent from the field three times during the stretch and 75+ percent from the foul line on four occasions. MSU has also recorded 85 assists, 55 steals and just 53 turnovers during the stretch.
REBOUNDING IS WHAT WE DO
Morehead State has led the Ohio Valley Conference in rebounding margin six straight seasons (2008-14), paced the league in rebounds five of the last six years and had the conference’s top individual four of the past six seasons. The Eagles currently lead the OVC in rebounding margin (+4.9), while ranking third in boards per game (35.5).
MORE ON THE GLASS CLEANING
Morehead State is +113 in total rebounds, +83 in offensive boards and +41 in second-chance points over its last 19 contests. The Eagles have only been outrebounded twice during the stretch and seven times in 33 affairs this season. MSU has four individuals averaging at least 4.0 boards this year, but only had three at this point last season.
A BIG CONFERENCE SEASON
Senior Karam Mashour averaged 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 16 Ohio Valley Conference games after averaging just 5.3 points and 3.7 boards in 15 contests during the season’s first two months. The forward registered 13 double-figure scoring performances and five double-figure rebounding efforts in league play.
THE ONLY FOURTH-YEAR PLAYER
Senior Angelo Warner, the only fourth-year player at Morehead State, has recorded 1,544 points (12.0 pg) and 3,578 minutes (27.7 pg) in 129 career tilts. The guard has reached 10 points on 82 occasions. He ranks 10th on MSU’s career scoring list and first among active Ohio Valley Conference players.
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