By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media RelationsGAME NOTES (PDF)| ESPN+ | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
MOREHEAD, Ky. — An early-season four-game road swing for the Morehead Sate men’s basketball team will finish up Saturday when the Eagles face the North Alabama Lions.
Game time at UNA’s Flowers Hall is set for Noon ET. The Lions (3-4) are a transitioning program to Division I and compete in the ASUN Conference. Morehead State will be looking to right ship so to speak after falling in the last three road games. The Eagles sit at 4-3.
The game will be carried live on WIVY-96.3 FM and can be seen on ESPN+.
GAME NOTES
• MSU and North Alabama are meeting for the first time in their program’s histories. This marks the second straight contest the Eagles have played against a first-time opponent (William & Mary).
• Morehead State only committed four turnovers at William & Mary. That was the fewest floor mistakes in a game in the 2000’s (since the 2000-01 season).
• Senior guard Jordan Walker has reached the 20-point plateau in a game 19 times now in his career, including two this season. He also now has 60 career double-figure scoring performances.
• Freshman forward Tyzhaun Claude is tied for the OVC lead in double-doubles. Claude has two double-doubles already in his first collegiate season.
• Junior guard Justin Thomas ranks third in the nation in total steals (24) and steals per game (3.43), leading the OVC in both of those categories.
• Junior forward James Baker has recorded seven blocked shots in the last three games. He led the entire OVC in blocked shots in league games last season.
• Junior guard De’von Cooper returned to the court at William & Mary after missing the first six games with an injury. Cooper averaged 8.8 points last season.
• Sophomore forward LJ Bryan’s 65 percent field goal accuracy ranks third in the Ohio Valley
Conference.
• MSU has connected on at least 50 percent from the floor in four of the seven games so far.
• Since the 2008-09 season, Morehead State has put together five 20-win seasons and advanced to five national postseason events, including NCAA Tournaments twice.
• Morehead State has hit at least one three-pointer in 412 consecutive games. The last time the Eagles failed to drain one from distance was in 2007 against Jacksonville State.