By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. — Looking to keep its record at perfection to start the 2019-20 season, Morehead State’s men’s basketball squad returns home Saturday to host Maryland Eastern Shore. Tip time at Johnson Arena is 6 p.m. ET.
The game against Maryland Eastern Shore game is part of the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic, presented by ShotTracker. The Eagles will also face road tests at Missouri, Butler and William & Mary next week as part of the event.
Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ and listen on WIVY-96.3 FM and MSUEagles.com.
The Eagles defeated Presbyterian 77-55 Thursday in its first road test of the year. The Hawks, member of the MEAC, enter the tilt searching for their first win under new head coach Jason Cranston as they sit at 0-3.
GAME NOTES
• This is the eighth all-time meeting between these two programs with MSU holding a 5-2 advantage. The teams have not met, however, since Dec. 3, 2005, with the first-ever meeting coming all the way back on Jan. 11, 1988.
• Morehead State has equaled its best start to a season since 1993-94 at 3-0. A win against the Hawks would equal the program’s best four-game start since the 1980-81 squad began 4-0.
• Morehead State leads the Ohio Valley Conference in field goal percentage defense, limiting the first three foes to only 36 percent accuracy combined. The Eagles also pace the entire OVC citcuit in three-point defense, holding opponents to only 25 percent from long range.
• The Eagles lead the OVC in rebounding at 45.0 caroms per contest and also lead in rebounding margin at +12.0. MSU also paces the league in offensive rebounding percentage at .448. Freshman forward Tyzhaun Clauderanks fourth in the league with 8.7 boards per game.
• The Eagles have hit at least 50 percent from the floor in two straight games.
• Junior guard Justin Thomas averaged 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 5.0 steals in the previous two games.
• Justin Thomas leads the OVC and ranks sixth in the nation with 11 total steals to his credit so far in 2019-20.
• Sophomore forward LJ Bryan reached double figures for the first time in his career, leading MSU with 13 points at Presbyterian. He also led the team with eight rebounds.
• Morehead State has hit at least one three-pointer in 408 consecutive games. The last time the Eagles failed to drain one from distance was in 2007 against Jacksonville State.