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MOREHEAD, Ky.--After a grueling four-game road swing, Morehead State men’s basketball shifts gears and returns home to open Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 7:45 p.m. at Johnson Arena. MSU Students will receive a free t-shirt with a valid MSU ID.
Morehead State is coming off a nice road win versus incoming OVC member SIU Edwardsville. Demonte Harper broke through for a career-high 35 points and Kenneth Faried had 25 points and 20 rebounds. The win snapped a three-game losing streak, during which MSU took two top-10 teams down to the wire.
The Eagles lead the all-time series with UT Martin, 26-13. MSU has won three straight in the series and eight of the last nine meetings, including sweeping both of last year’s games.
UT Martin is 2-4 this season having started the season at 2-0 before losing four straight. Those four losses have come against top-notch competition (LSU, Northwestern State, Memphis and Lipscomb) and three of those were on the road.
The Skyhawks are averaging 75.0 points per game, which is tops in the OVC and 100th in the nation with four players averaging in double figures. Reuben Clayton leads UTM and is third in the OVC in scoring 17.8 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. Mike Liabo adds 13.2 points per game, Benzor Simmons and Terence Smith score 11.8 and 11.7 points per game respectively. Smith also adds 2.3 assists per game.
Following Thursday’s game, Morehead State will host Murray State in a 2010 championship OVC title game. Saturday’s game, is black out night at MSU. Tip time is approximately 8 p.m.
