By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- It all started Jan. 2 at Murray State. The Morehead State men's basketball team ended a long losing streak to the Racers in games in Murray and started what is currently a nine-game winning streak. The Eagles will look to continue their success Thursday when Murray State visits for the second game in the season series. Tipoff at Johnson Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Traditionally one of the most elite OVC programs, the Racers enter this week with an 8-8 overall mark and a 5-6 league ledger. Murray has won three of its last four games and has scored 70 or more in six straight. The Eagles (13-6/10-2 OVC) will also be looking for the first season sweep over the Racers since 2002-03.
The game will air live on ESPN+ as well as MSUEagles.com (WIVY-96.3 FM audio).
LAST TIME AGAINST MURRAY STATE (Full Recap | Box Score)
Led by a career-high 19 points from junior guard
DeVon Cooper, Morehead State men's basketball led nearly wire-to-wire and ended two long streaks at Murray State Jan. 2 night as the Eagles upended the Racers 61-56 at the CFSB Center. The Eagles (5-6/2-2 OVC) halted a 13-game losing streak at Murray State (4-5/1-3 OVC) since Jan. 23, 2003 and put a halt to Murray State's 25-game home winning streak. The last time the Racers fell on their home court was to Belmont in 2019, the fifth longest current streak at the time in the nation.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Record vs. Murray State: 56-118
First Meeting: Feb. 1, 1934 (MUR won 46-22)
Streak: MOR, 1 game
Record in Murray: 15-62
Record in Morehead: 38-39
Last 5 Meetings
1/25/18 Murray, Ky. L 87-81
1/3/19 Murray, Ky. L 90-69
2/28/19 MOREHEAD, KY. L 71-52
2/15/20 Murray, Ky. L 85-57
1/2/21 Murray, Ky. W 61-56
NOTABLE
• Morehead State has equaled its longest winning streak (9) since winning nine straight in 2010-11. Also, Morehead State's five-game OVC road winning streak is the best since 2010-11. The winning streak is tied for the fourth longest current streak in D1 overall and the third best if you count games just this season.
• Morehead State completed the first-ever undefeated January (9-0) in program history.
• Morehead State's 10-2 start after 12 OVC games is the best after 12 games since being 11-1 in 2009-10.
• The Eagles are ranked 25th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. It's the first time since 2010-11 the Eagles have been ranked in this poll.
• Freshman forward
Johni Broome was named OVC Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season. Broome's five awards trails only Ricky Minard (2000-01) and Erik Brown (1998-99) for the program record for Freshman of the Week Awards.
• Senior James Baker has scored in double figures in six consecutive games, which is the longest double-figure scoring games streak in his four-year career. Baker averaged 12 points per game in the last six.
• James Baker is now tied for third place in MSU program history with 115 career blocked shots.
• During Morehead State's eight-game winning streak, the Eagles have held a lead for 304 (33.2 average) of the possible 360 minutes of action. Morehead State enters this game with a streak of 91 consecutive minutes of not trailing in the past three games.
• MSU is 25-0 in the past two seasons when leading with one minute left in regulation. The Eagles are also 18-1 in the past two years when holding a halftime lead.
• MSU is 8-0 when its scores at least 70 points and 8-0 when the opponent scores 60 or less this season.
• Junior guard
Skyelar Potter leads MSU with 33 three-pointers and averaged 15 points in his last two games.
• During the past six games, the Eagles own a +20.2 victory margin. This marks the first time in program history (since 1929-30) MSU owns six straight wins by double digits.
