By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE VIDEO, LIVE AUDIO AND LIVE STATS)
MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State’s men’s basketball team is set to hit the road again to head south for the second time this season. After an opening trip to Alabama, the Eagles will veer a little more to the west Sunday to play at Mississippi State. Tip-off time is 3 p.m. ET in Starkville.
The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Radio Network with Chuck Mraz and Dean Hardin. It’s also available on MSUEagles.com as well as WGOH 100.9 FM/1370 AM. The game will also air live on SEC+ and ESPN app.
2021-22 RECORDS
MOR: 2-2 (0-0 OVC) | MISS STATE: 3-0 (0-0 SEC)
SERIES RECORDRecord vs. Mississippi State: 0-5First Meeting: 12/28/57 (MissSt won 46-41 at MissSt)Last Meeting: 12/22/16 (MissSt won 85-76 at MissSt)Record in Starkville, Miss.: 0-4Record in Morehead: 0-1
NOTABLE• Morehead State and Mississippi State meet for just the second time since 1980 Sunday in Starkville. The Bulldogs own a 5-0 series advantage with a win in 2016-17 in head coach Preston Spradlin‘s interim year. Morehead State is 2-34 all-time against SEC teams, including Auburn this season and wins over Alabama and Florida in the Eagles’ history.
• Morehead State won for the 10th consecutive time during a home contest Thursday against Transylvania. The Eagles are still looking for their first road victory of 2021-22 after falling at Auburn and UAB last week.
• Since the 2010-11 season, Morehead State has ranked either No. 1 or 2 in the OVC in rebounding margin every season except three and this is no exception. The Eagles lead the OVC in rebound margin at +13.5 and have out-rebounded all four foes so far. MSU is now 23-5 in the last two seasons when corralling more rebounds.
• Second-year freshman center Johni Broome leads the OVC in rebounding at 11.3 per game. Broome had 10 versus Transylvania and 15 versus KCU this week, giving him double-digit boards in nine of his last 11 games dating back to last season.
• Johni Broome has been named to the Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List, which honors the nation’s top Mid-Major Player.
• According to the record book, Johni Broome is the fourth player in program history to reach 300 career rebounds in less than 35 career games, joining Leonard Coulter (1971-74), Norman Pokley (1960-63) and Steve Hamilton (1954-58).
• Sophomore guard Ta’Lon Cooper nearly accomplished a triple-double Thursday versus Transylvania. The point guard dished out a career-high 12 assists, scored 12 points and grabbed a career-best eight rebounds. His assist total was the most for an Eagle since Miguel Dicent had 13 helpers versus Eastern Washington on Dec. 13, 2016. The only (known) triple-double in program history was Xavier Moon versus Central Arkansas on Dec. 19, 2016.
• Morehead State drained a season-high 16 three-pointers against Transylvania, including six in the first nine minutes of the game. It was the most made three-balls for an MSU squad since hitting 18 in the above-mentioned game Xavier Moon had a triple double.
• Freshman guard Drew Thelwell made his first career start a good one against Transylvania. In 22 minutes, he had a career-high 13 points on a career-best three triples and also dished out a career-high four assists.
• Ta’lon Cooper has 27 career games now with 4+ assists.
• Morehead State owns a string of 40 winning results when leading with a minute left in regulation play. The last time MSU held a lead at the 1:00 minute mark of the second half and lost was a 65-64 setback at Jacksonville State on Jan. 21, 2019.