GAME NOTES | SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE AUDIO, LIVE VIDEO AND LIVE STATS)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State's men's basketball team will hope the momentum of a crucial comeback win last Saturday will carry over to this week as the Eagles hit the Music City to face Tennessee State Saturday. Game time is 8:30 p.m. ET.
The game will air on ESPN+ and the Eagle Sports Radio Network. Listen to Chuck Mraz and
Matt Schabert on WIVY-96.3 FM (flagship station), on WMST 106.9 FM, WPKE 98.1 in Pikeville, WPRT 104.5 in Prestonsburg or on MSUEagles.com.
After winning nine straight games in its series with Tennessee State, MSU saw the Tigers put a halt on that streak late last season in Nashville, winning 64-55. Prior to that MSU had won four straight and five of the previous six meetings in the Gentry Center.
Tennessee State owns an identical 4-2 OVC success rate than MSU and is 10-5 overall. Travis Harper II ranks second in the conference with 17.5 points per game.
2025-26 RECORDS
MSU: 8-9, 4-2 OVC | TSU: 10-5, 4-2 OVC
THE SERIES
Record vs. TSU: 49-39
First Meeting: 12/6/80 MSU won 88-80 at MSU
Last Meeting: 2/27/25 TSU won 64-55 at TSU
Streak: TSU, W1
Record vs. TSU in Nashville, Tenn.: 17-24
Record vs. TSU in Morehead: 31-11
Neutral Record: 1-4
LAST 5 GAMES
2/16/23 MOREHEAD, KY. W 74-64
1/6/24 MOREHEAD, KY. W 78-68
2/1/24 Nashville, Tenn. W 68-49
12/21/24 MOREHEAD, KY. W 74-68
2/27/25 Nashville, Tenn. L 64-55
NOTABLE
• Morehead State has a 117-66 overall record since 2020-21, or 64 percent success rate. That figure ranks No. 1 for winning percentage in the Ohio Valley Conference in that span. The program has had nine 20-win seasons since 2008-09.
• MSU has won 40 consecutive games when its opponent scores 60 points or less. The last team to defeat MSU and still score less than 60 was another MSU - Murray State - on Feb. 12, 2022 (Eagles lost 57-53 at home).
• The program has had particular success in the first half of the conference schedule. MSU started OVC action 9-1 last season and was 11-1 at one point in 2023-24. The Eagles have kick-started the 2025-26 OVC action 4-2. In the past three seasons, MSU is 24-4 in OVC games played in the first half of the conference season.
• Morehead State has won 52 straight games when it shoots at least 50 percent from the floor. The last team to defeat the Eagles when it made 50 percent or higher was Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 7, 2020 (MSU hit 67 percent but still lost that game).
• Morehead State has hit at least one three-pointer in 197 straight games. The last time MSU did not hit a triple was Jan. 16, 2020 at Tennessee State.
•
Davion Cunningham earned this week's OVC Newcomer of the Week after scoring a career-high 35 points in the 71-69 comeback win over Southeast Missouri Saturday. His point production is the highest single-game total for an OVC player in a game this year.
•
Davion Cunningham scored 25 points in the second half versus Southeast Missouri. It's the most points scored in a half by an Eagle player since former OVC Player of the Year and MSU Athletic Hall of Famer Ricky Minard scored 28 versus Marshall all the way back on Dec. 17, 2002. Minard had two points in the first half that day, 28 in the final half and five in overtime as MSU won 101-100.
•
Vince Dawson III had a breakout game Thursday vs. UT Martin and earned his first-ever OVC Freshman of the Week honor. He scored 13 points - all in the first half, hitting all four three-pointers. On the week, Dawson nailed and incredible 86 percent form the field and was perfect (1.000) from distance.
•
Chase Dawson and
Davion Cunningham are closing in on 800 career collegiate points. Dawson (777) leads Cunningham (755) slightly.
Tamaury Releford just scored his 500th career point at SIUE last week.
•
George Marshall now has 899 career points in college. He's scored 464 in his three seasons at MSU.
•
Jon Carroll ranks second in the conference with five double-doubles.
•
George Marshall has scored in double figures in 10 of the 17 games.
• MSU has 10 games where it committed less fouls than its opponent.
• MSU has won all four of its games this year where the victory margin was five points or less.
• Morehead State's non-starters average 32.2 points per game, second in the OVC. MSU has outscored the opponent bench contingent in 12 of the 17 games.
• Morehead State has out-rebounded 94 opponents in the last five years, winning 74 of those games.
• MSU has scored 20+ points in the paint in all 17 games and averages 34.8 paint points per game.
• Call us the comeback crew. MSU has five wins this year where it trailed at halftime. That's the most wins trailing after 20 minutes in the past six seasons.
• In the past five years, MSU is an amazing 69-3 when it holds a lead with a minute left in the game.
