By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media RelationsGAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE VIDEO, LIVE AUDIO AND LIVE STATS)
MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State men’s basketball will look to stay perfect in the Ohio Valley Conference at 4-0 when they face a tough road test Saturday at Tennessee State. The game has been moved up a few hours to 2 p.m. ET.
The Eagles are riding a five-game winning streak overall and are 3-0 in the league. Despite some very solid stat numbers, TSU is 6-9 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Radio Network (WIVY-96.3 FM) with Chuck Mraz and Matt Schabert. It’s also available on MSUEagles.com as well as network partner WGOH 100.9 FM/1370 AM. The game will also air live on ESPN+.
2021-22 RECORDS
MOR: 11-5 (3-0 OVC) | TSU: 6-9 (1-2 OVC)
SERIES RECORDRecord vs. TSU: 42-38First Meeting: 12/6/80 MSU won 88-80 at MSULast Meeting: 2/25/21 MSU won 74-60 at TSUStreak: MSU, 2 gamesRecord in Nashville, Tenn.: 14-23Record in Morehead: 27-11Neutral Record: 1-4
NOTABLE• Morehead State’s series with Tennessee State has been dominated by the home team beng victorious. The Eagles are 27-11 all-time at home against TSU but only 14-23 in Nashville’s Gentry Center. MSU has won the previous two matchups and three of the last four overall in the series.
• The Eagles are one of just 26 teams nationally to be at least 3-0 or better in their conference standings currently.
• Morehead State has now won 12 consecutive games in January, dating back to going 9-0 in the first month of the year last season. The last January loss for MSU was Jan. 25, 2020 versus Jacksonville State.
• The Eagles are riding a five-game winning streak overall. MSU reeled off 12 straight wins last season on its way to the OVC Championship. This marks the first time since 2014-15 and 2015-16 that the Eagles have have back-to-back seasons with 5+ game winning streaks.
• During MSU’s five-game winning streak, the Eagles are allowing just 53.2 points per game, boast a scoring margin of +21.2, a rebound margin of +8.2, are shooting 50 percent as a team and holding opponents to just 37 percent. The Eagles have also committed 26 fewer fouls during this span.
• Johni Broome was named to the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List, a list he was on as well in 2020-21. The award honors the nation’s best mid-major player.
• Johni Broome posted double-double No. 10 on the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds against UT Martin. He ranks among the nation’s top five in double-doubles and now has 23 of the variety in 46 career games, garnering a double-double in 50 percent of his career outings. Broome also now has 14 career 20+ point efforts.
• With an OVC-high 99 assists, sophomore point guard Ta’Lon Cooper ranks eighth nationally in total assists. With six more helpers against UT Martin, Cooper now has 304 and is in ninth place in career assists in MSU program history. He has 11 games with 5+ assists this season. Cooper also showed his scoring ability against UTM with a season-high 18 points.
• Grad transfer Tray Hollowell has hit at least one three-pointer in all 16 games in 2021-22 and owns a string of 23 consecutive games with at least one three-ball made since last season at Wofford.
• Tray Hollowell enters the game with 987 career collegiate points, including 799 in four seasons at Wofford. Currently there are 34 former MSU players who have registered 1,000 points while suiting up as an Eagle.
• Junior guard Jaylon Hall dished out a season-high seven assists against UT Martin, entering the contest with 14 assists in his first eight Eagle games.
• With 110 career blocked shots, Johni Broome is already up to fifth place in career rejections in program history. He needs just six more to move into fourth. Broome has blocked six shots in a game five times already this season and ranks in the top nationally in rejections.