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MARTIN, Tenn.--Morehead State men’s basketball closes out the 2010-11 regular season Saturday at UT Martin with a chance to finish anywhere from first to third in the final standings. Tip-off at the Elam Center is set for 7 p.m. Eastern.
The Eagles, who lost a tough game Thursday at Murray State, still control their own destiny for second place - a win assures MSU at least second place. A loss, coupled with an Austin Peay win over SEMO, drops the Eagles into third place. The No. 1 seed happens if Morehead State wins, Murray State loses to Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State and SEMO each win their respective games. Nearly the same results, except for an Austin Peay win over SEMO, forces a coin flip for the No. 1 seed.
Either way, the Eagles must take care of business against UT Martin, a team MSU opened the OVC schedule with, hanging a 70-49 win on the Skyhawks in Johnson Arena in December. Morehead State (21-9; 12-5 OVC) has won four straight and nine of the last 10 versus UTM (11-19; 6-11 OVC).
That December game with UT Martin was almost three months ago however, and the upstart Skyhawks have won a couple of key games since then, including beating Eastern Kentucky Thursday to clinch the final spot in the OVC Tournament. They’ve won three of the last five games and are fighting to improve their seeding for the tournament. UTM boasts five players averaging double-figure scoring, led by Reuben Clayton’s 11.9 and Benzor Simmons 11.8 points per game.
MSU held an 18-rebound advantage over the Skyhawks in the first meeting, led by 20 boards from Kenneth Faried, who averages 17.4 points and 14.1 rebounds to lead MSU. Faried also led the Eagles in scoring in that game with 15 points.
MSU’s next game will be determined by its seeding, Thursday if the Eagles are the No. 3 seed, Friday if they are No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
