By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
The Eagles absorbed a 70-52 at Missouri Wednesday but still pace the OVC with a 4-1 record. Butler has yet to be beaten in 2019-20 at 4-0.
MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State men’s basketball is getting prepped to now face the Butler Bulldogs Friday night. Game time at Hinkle Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m. ET.
The game will air live on Fox Sports 1 and can be heard live on the Eagles Sports Network and WIVY-96.3 FM.
GAME NOTES
• The game against Butler is the third of four games in the Hall of Fame Classic. The Eagles will wrap the event at William & Mary this coming Tuesday.
• MSU meets Butler for just the second time in program history with Butler winning the only other matchup (85-69) in Indianapolis in 2017-18. MSU and Butler both play in the Pioneer Football League.
• The contest will mark a homecoming for seniors Jordan Walker and Djimon Henson and junior transfer Justin Thomas. Walker prepped at Cathedral High School, Henson at Lawrence North and Thomas at Pike High School. It will be the first collegiate game back for Thomas after transferring from Northern Illinois. Walker and Henson have played at Butler and IUPUI as part of their college careers.
• Morehead State is off to its best start (4-1) since the 2015-16 team started the year 6-1.
• Morehead State leads the Ohio Valley Conference in total rebounds. The Eagles have secured 205 rebounds in their five games.
• In the last three games, opponents have only managed to shoot 24 percent (18-of-74) from three-point range against the Eagles.
• Freshman forward Tyzhaun Claudehad 10 points and 11 rebounds at Missouri for his third career double-double. He leads the OVC in double-doubles.
• Jordan Walker has scored in double figures in 20 of the last 22 games dating back to last season.
• Junior guard Justin Thomas ranks second in the nation in total steals with 19 takeaways.
• In all but one of the first five games, MSU has forced more turnovers for the opponent than it has made itself.
• Morehead State has hit at least one three-pointer in 410 consecutive games. The last time the Eagles failed to drain one from distance was in 2007 against Jacksonville State.