GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE VIDEO, LIVE AUDIO AND LIVE STATS)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- One way or another, the Eagles will win Thursday's men's basketball battle on FamilyLeisure.com Court in Johnson Arena. For the Morehead State Eagles, they are getting prepared for the victor to be them. MSU hosts the Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles Thursday night following the women's contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET.
It will mark the first-ever men's hoops matchup of the two schools. Southern Indiana, located in Evansville, joined the league this past summer after being in the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference for a multitude of seasons.
Morehead State's teams are already 3-0 in head-to-head contests (volleyball and soccer) against teams from USI in 2022-23.
The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Radio Network (WIVY-96.3 FM) with Chuck
Mraz and Drew Barnette. It is also available on MSUEagles.com as well as network partner
WGOH 100.9 FM/1370 AM. The game will also air live on ESPN+ with announcers Jared Stacy and Dean Hardin.
2022-23 RECORDS
MSU: 8-7/1-1 OVC | USI: 8-7/1-1 OVC
SERIES RECORD
Record vs. USI: First Meeting
NOTABLE
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Mark Freeman reached 1,000 career collegiate points Dec. 31 at Tennessee State. He is the 36th Eagle all-time to score his 1,000th college point in an MSU uniform after transfer
Tray Hollowell accomplished it last season. He has 1,002 career points now at MSU, Tennessee State and Illinois State.
• Head coach
Preston Spradlin coached his 100th career win Dec. 29 at Tennessee State, becoming the 6th head coach in program history with 100+ wins.
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Mark Freeman's 30 points at Tennessee State Dec. 29 was just the third individual 30-point effort in the last 10 seasons for Morehead State.
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Alex Gross is one of just eight current players on Division I teams to score 2,000+ career points in college. He is the ONLY current player in Division I to record 2,000+ points AND 1,200+ career rebounds in college (Gross' first four seasons were in NAIA). His career college totals stand at 2,194 points and 1,340 career rebounds.
• Morehead State has three 1,000+ point college scorers on the same team this year.
Alex Gross (2,194) and
Branden Maughmer (1,821) already have well surpassed 1,000.
Mark Freeman just got there, now with 1,002.
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Mark Freeman has made 26 consecutive free throws over the last six games. The program record for consecutive free throws is 46 by Glenn Napier in 1980-81.
• Morehead State is 18-1 in January games over the past two seasons. Additionally, the Eagles are 30-4 (.882) in home games in the past three seasons. Ironically, even with all the victories, MSU will be looking to halt a two-game home OVC losing skid this week.
• Morehead State leads the OVC in free throw percentage at .742. The Eagles rank 37th nationally in free throws made per game at 15.6. Incredibly, the Eagles were 45-of-53 (.849) at the stripe in the last three games. MSU hit its first 21 free throws at UT Martin, and the Eagles went two straight games without missing a free throw in the first half in the games at TSU and UT Martin.
• Brandon Maughmer set a career-high for rebounds with eight at Tennessee State, then grabbed seven at UT Martin. All 15 of the rebounds were of the defensive variety.
• The Eagles lead the OVC in free throw percentage (.742), rebound margin (+4.5), scoring defense (68.2) and three-point defense (.273). MSU's three-point defense is currently the ninth-best in Division I.
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Preston Spradlin ranks first among the 10 current OVC head coaches in wins at their current school (100), winning percentage at their current school (.513), conference wins at the school (60) and conference winning percentage (.546).
