MBB Set to Host Oakland in BracketBusters Return Game

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State men's basketball team will play its third game in six days on Saturday when Horizon League opponent Oakland visits Johnson Arena.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET.  It will be just the second all-time meeting between MSU and OU in men's hoops.

Oakland posted an 82-79 overtime victory over Morehead State in the only previous meeting on Feb. 23, 2013.  That game was played at the O'rena in Michigan.  Saturday marks the return game from the Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters event, which ended with the 2012-13 campaign.

The Ohio Valley Conference Eagles, who have dropped two straight contests, are 4-6 overall and 2-1 at home.  MSU lost at UAB on Thursday.  The Golden Grizzlies, who have won three of their last four, are 3-5 overall and 0-2 on the road.  OU defeated Rochester (Mich.) on Wednesday.

The game, which is presented by Wendy's, will include several in-game promotions.  Adult tickets begin at just $8, while tickets for children 12-and-under start at $3.  Parking is only $5 per vehicle.  Click here to purchase tickets on-line.


Ways to follow the game:

LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO (CPU) | LIVE AUDIO (mobile) | LIVE STATS | TWITTER

The game will be webcast live and free of charge on OVCDigitalNetwork.com.  The video production, which is coordinated by Eagle Vision, will include multiple cameras, replays, graphics and audio.  The contest will also be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network, with Chuck Mraz calling the play-by-play and Jason Blanton serving as the analyst.  The radio network includes WIVY-96.3 FM in Morehead, WCBJ-103.7 FM in Campton, WLGC-1520 AM in Ashland/Greenup, MSUEagles.com (computers), m.Morehead.EZStream.com (mobile devices) and the Eagle Empire App.


Releases and pre-game information:

MOREHEAD STATE | OAKLAND | OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE


Ten notes heading into the contest:
 
AN IMPROVED DEFENSE
Through 10 games this season, Morehead State's opponents are averaging just 61.9 points on 39.8 percent from the field.  At this point last year, MSU's foes were averaging 72.6 points on 45.2 percent from the floor.  The Eagles also have 17 more blocked shots.

THE PRODUCTION IS PICKING UP
Junior Lyonell Gaines has averaged 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last four games after posting just 0.6 points and 1.4 rebounds through his first five contests.  The Louisville native and IUPUI transfer is averaging 5.1 points and 4.0 boards this season.

HANDING OUT THE ASSISTS
Senior Kareem Storey is averaging 6.0 assists, which would be first in the Ohio Valley Conference if he had enough games to qualify.  The guard would also place third with a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.  He has reached the five-assist plateau 20 times at MSU.

CLIMBING THE SCORING LIST
Angelo Warner ranks fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 16.2 points per game.  The guard has reached 10 points 68 times and 20 points on 15 occasions.  He is up to 1,279 points as an Eagle and needs just 52 more to move into 17th in school history.

CAREER HIGHS GALORE
Morehead State rolled to a 121-49 win over Kentucky Christian last Saturday at Johnson Arena.  The Eagles established 30 career highs and led from start to finish.

A RECORD-SETTING DAY
The 72-point victory over Kentucky Christian was Morehead State's largest in program history.  The Eagles are in their 86th season with an intercollegiate team.

IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS
Morehead State rolled to advantages of 49-20 in rebounds, 33-16 in assists and 26-7 in steals against Kentucky Christian.  The Eagles turned 36 turnovers in 67 points, while the Knights scored just 16 points off 17 miscues.  MSU also registered a 72-20 upper hand in paint points and 49-8 cushion in fast-break points.

A GRUELING BEGINNING
Morehead State played six of its first seven contests away from Johnson Arena this year.  The Eagles visited UNLV, Cincinnati, Louisiana Tech and Marshall during the stretch.  MSU went 9-7 on the road last season and 2-2 at neutral sites.

PLAYING ON TV
Morehead State will play on television at least eight times in 2014-15.  MSU's remaining TV games include Ohio State on the Big Ten Network (Dec. 13), Green Bay on the American Sports Network (Dec. 17), Eastern Kentucky on ESPNU (Feb. 11) and Tennessee Tech on CBS Sports Network (Feb. 26).  For more, visit MSUEagles.com.

ESPN 30 FOR 30
Sean Woods, who played at Kentucky from 1989-92, will be included in an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary -- "I Hate Christian Laettner" -- on Selection Sunday in March.  Laettner hit one of the most memorable shots in NCAA Tournament history, helped Duke to two NCAA national championships and played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association.  Woods and Laettner went head-to-head in the Elite Eight of the 1992 NCAA Tournament, which continues to be regarded as one of the greatest games ever.  For more, visit MSUEagles.com.