GAME NOTES | SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE AUDIO AND LIVE STATS) | TICKETS
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Even though it won't count in the records, Morehead State Men's Basketball and Eastern Kentucky meet for the 198th time in history and for the first time since EKU exited the Ohio Valley Conference after the 2020-21 season. The teams will tip off the 2025-26 season with an exhibition game Monday night at Johnson Arena at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The game can also be heard on the Eagle Sports Radio Network (WIVY-96.3 FM flagship station as well as WMST-106.9 in Mt. Sterling) with Chuck Mraz and
Drew Barnette. It is also available on MSUEagles.com. The game will NOT air on ESPN+.
The long-running rivalry has been on hiatus since the Eagles eliminated EKU from the OVC Tournament in 2021.
It will also be Greek Night and fans will receive free schedule posters for the 2025-26 season
2024-25 RECORDS
MSU: 15-17, 10-10 OVC | EKU: 18-14, 12-6 A-SUN
THE SERIES
Record vs. EKU: 87-110
First Meeting: 2/10/31 EKU won 32-20 at EKU
Last Meeting: 3/5/21 MSU won 67-64 at Evansville, Ind.
Streak: MSU, W2
Record in Richmond, Ky.: 33-60
Record in Morehead: 49-42
Neutral Record: 0-0
RECENT GAMES
2/11/17 Richmond, Ky. (A) W 67-62
2/10/18 Richmond, Ky. (A) L 75-73
2/24/18 MOREHEAD, KY. W 70-66
2/14/19 MOREHEAD, KY. W 78-72
3/2/19 Richmond, Ky. (A) W 78-77
2/13/20 MOREHEAD, KY. L 78-71
2/29/20 Richmond, Ky. (A) L 80-76
12/7/20 Richmond, Ky. (A) L 71-68
12/14/20 MOREHEAD, KY. W 75-62
3/5/21 Evansville, Ind. (NS) W 67-64
NOTABLE
• Head Coach
Jonathan Mattox enters his second season leading Morehead State's program. Mattox and staff led MSU to 15 wins in 2024-25.
• Morehead State has a 109-57 overall record since 2020-21, or 63 percent success rate. That's easily the best mark in the OVC during that span.
• Morehead State's 2025-26 roster features three returning players (two who played and one redshirt) -
George Marshall, Jr.,
Anouar Mellouk and
Jace Winkleman - and 12 newcomers.
• Transfer guard
Chase Dawson was the 2024-25 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year at Mount Olive (N.C.). Dawson scored the third-most points in a single season in Mount Olive (N.C.) (Division II) history after racking up 642 points in 30 games played. He led the Conference Carolinas in points and field goals made (230) while coming in second with his 83 percent free throw accuracy. Dawson Averaged 21.4 points per game and reached 20+ markers 18 times.
•
George Marshall, Jr., is the leading returning point producer. He averaged 7.3 points per game, including six double-figure games. Marshall scored a career-high 24 at Eastern Illinois.
•
George Marshall, Jr. made 29 of his last 30 free throws to finish the 2024-25 season.
•
Anouar Mellouk registered 10 double-figure scoring games in his first season as an Eagle. He is also the lone international player on the roster, hailing from Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Freshman
Vince Dawson III is a state champion. He led Great Crossing High School in Georgetown, Ky., to the Sweet 16 title in 2024-25.
Davion Cunningham was also a state champion at North Mecklenburg High School in North Carolina.
• Senior transfer
Tamaury Releford earned the MVP of the Arkansas State Tournament and was named the Northwest Arkansas Conference MVP during his senior season in 2021-22.
•
Jon Carroll was named Second-Team NJCAA Division II All-American last year and produced 18 double-doubles at North Central Missouri College.
• Rebounding has been a mainstay of the Eagle program for a long time. MSU has 10 consecutive season with a plus rebound margin.
•
Tyonne Farrell was a two-time Rookie of the Week in the Atlantic 10 Conference at Rhode Island last season.
