MOREHEAD, Ky. — Looking to enact some payback for a road loss just a week ago, Morehead State men’s basketball will match up with Eastern Kentucky, this time at home, on Monday night at 6 p.m. ET.
The game can be seen live on ESPN+, as well as heard live on MSUEagles.com and WIVY-96.3 FM.
Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky meet for the fourth time in the same calendar year Monday, marking the first time since 1972 that MSU has faced a team that many times in one calendar year. Ironically that year it was also EKU (Feb. 5, March 4, March 8, Dec. 11).
LAST TIME AGAINST EKU
A tremendous first half and a 16-point lead could not hold up for the Morehead State men’s basketball team at Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 7 as the Eagles saw a late goaltending call ultimately erase the lead, and EKU recorded the 71-68 win over the Eagles. The Eagles shot 67 percent, including 75 percent in the first half when they led 44-28. Morehead State turned the ball over 27 times, leading to 28 points for the home team. EKU entered the game ranking in the top 15 in the nation in forcing mistakes. Five Eagles reached double figures in scoring, led by Johni Broome and junior guard KJ Hunt, Jr., with a career-best 13. Junior guard Skyelar Potter (11) and Baker (11) were next, followed by junior guard DeVon Cooper with 10.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Records: Morehead State (3-4; 0-1) | Eastern Kentucky (5-1; 1-0)
Series: Eastern Kentucky leads 110-85
Last Five Meetings:2/14/19 MOREHEAD, KY. W 78-723/2/19 Richmond, Ky. W 78-772/13/20 MOREHEAD, KY. L 78-712/29/20 Richmond, Ky. L 80-7612/7/20 Richmond, Ky. L 71-68
NOTABLE
• While the Colonels have won three games in a row in the overall series, Morehead State has won four of the last five played in Morehead. Morehead State has also won four straight home games dating back to the final contest in 2019-20.
• KJ Hunt, Jr., (13) and James Baker, Jr., (11) both registered season-high point outputs in the game at Eastern Kentucky.
• KJ Hunt, Jr handed out seven assists at Eastern Kentucky, a high for any Eagle this year, tying his Division I career-high he set with seven against Lamar while at McNeese State in 2018-19.
• The Eagles rank third in the OVC in scoring defense (68.9) and third in rebounding defense, allowing just 31.4 rebounds to the foe each time out.
• Speaking of defense, Morehead State ranks second in the OVC in blocked shots per game (4.3) after leading the OVC with 4.4 last year. While still early, it’s the third consecutive season MSU has been in the top three in the league in rejections and averaging more than 4.0 per game.
• Johni Broome’s 25 points against Arkansas State was the most for an Eagle freshman since Jordan Walkerdropped 26 versus UT Martin in 2016-17.
• Johni Broome ranks fifth among all OVC players with 7.6 rebounds per game, and he is currently the top league freshman in terms of rebounding average.
• Morehead State’s .674 shooting percentage at Eastern Kentucky was the third-highest in program history and the best since hitting 72 percent against Chattanooga in a win on Nov. 23, 2013. See page 2 for more on top shooting nights for MSU.
• Sophomore guard Julius Dixonregistered his best Eagle game yet on Dec. 9 vs. Transylvania. Dixon hit four three-pointers en route to a career-high 16 points while also grabbing a career-best five rebounds.
• Junior guard DeVon Cooper has scored in double figures in six straight games.
• Junior guard Skyelar Potter has hit at least one three-pointer in all six games he’s appeared in this season. Dating back to the 2019-20 season, Potter now has nine straight games with a three-pointer. He hit at least one in his final three games at Wright State last December before transferring and sitting out the 2020 portion of last year’s schedule.