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MOREHEAD, Ky.--The long anticipated rematch between Morehead State and Murray State is here. The second place Eagles will host the first place Racers Thursday night at 8:00 pm in Johnson Arena. The game will be a “Gold Rush” game, sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings.
Morehead State 19-9 (13-3) enters the game locked into the second seed in the OVC tournament and Murray State 26-3 (16-0) will be the first seed, but that doesn’t mean nothing will be on the line. The Eagles will be shooting for their 20th win this season, which would mark back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in school history. It would also be the first time Morehead State has garnered 20 regular season wins since the 2002-03 season.
Streaks are on the line Thursday night. The Eagles have a 16-game OVC home win streak, and the Racers sport the nations longest winning streak at 17 games. Last year the two teams split the regular season, with the home team winning each meeting.
The Eagles are coming off a non-conference loss to Illinois State in the Bracketbuster game, however Morehead State has won 15 of its last 18 games. Kenneth Faried leads the OVC and NCAA in rebounding grabbing 13.3 caroms per game. Faried is also second in the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game. Maze Stallworth has been especially strong down the stretch for the Eagles. Stallworth is averaging (12.8 ppg) and (5.1 rpg) on the season, and in the last six games he is averaging 17.1 points per game and has stroked 18-30 from beyond the arc.
Murray State enters the game coming off a Bracketbuster win at home against Morgan State, 75-66 of the MEAC conference. Murray has five players who average double figures in scoring and the balanced Racers are averaging 78.1 points per game as a team which ranks them 24th in the nation. Murray State also plays well on the defensive side of the ball holding opponents to a 38.5 shooting percentage from the field which ranks 13th in the nation.
Morehead State will close out the regular season on Saturday when the Eagles host UT Martin. Prior to the game, which tips at 7:30 pm, Morehead will honor its three seniors, Brandon Shingles, Les Simmons and Stallworth.
