GAME NOTES: The Murray State Racers try to extend their win streak to a season-long five in a row this afternoon as they host
the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs as part of the BracketBusters event at the Regional Special Events Center. On Tuesday night, the Racers picked up a 79-60 win against Southeast Missouri State, marking the team’s seventh win in eight tries and moving the group to 10-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play. As for the Bulldogs, a team that won a mere six games all of last season, they logged their 11th of 2008-09 on Thursday night with a resounding 84-47 decision versus Houston Baptist at home. Today LaTech, which is a mere 4-9 in Western Athletic Conference play, will shoot for back-to-back wins for the first time since the middle of December. Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series with Murray State by a count of 3-2, taking an 87-69 decision in the most recent meeting back in 1988 in Alabama as part of the UAB Classic. Olu Ashaolu registered a double-double consisting of 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the win over Houston Baptist two nights ago. Kyle Gibson accounted for a game-high 21 points, although he shot just 1-of-5 behind the three-point line, followed by Jamel Guyton with 19 points and five steals in 24 minutes of work for the home team. The Bulldogs finished the night shooting 51.7 percent from the floor, compared to a mere 34.5 percent for the visitors. A starter in all 26 games in which he has appeared, Gibson leads the group in scoring with his 15.0 ppg and is also first with his 72 assists. Guyton, who is tied with Gibson for the most three-point baskets with 54, checks in with 12.5 ppg even though he is shooting just 38.6 percent from the floor at the moment. If it were not for Gibson and Guyton, who are shooting .725 and .781 at the charity stripe this season, the Bulldogs would be much worse off than their 65.2 percent accuracy at the stripe would indicate.
One of four to score in double figures for the Racers at the Show Me Center, Isacc Miles tallied 24 points and handed out six assists as he converted 5- of-9 shots behind the three-point line. Ivan Aska came off the bench to tally 12 points and clear five rebounds, followed by Tony Easley and Tyler Holloway with 11 points apiece as well. Murray State actually shot better from the field on the night at 54.4 percent, than it did at the free-throw line (.538). The Racers have had a different player lead them in scoring in each of the last four games, yet Danero Thomas is still the only player on the roster who is scoring in double figures for the season with his 12.5 ppg. Considering MSU is posting 68.3 ppg, it seems to keep balanced scoring as a priority. Miles adds 9.8 ppg to the attack and Aska another 9.4 ppg, although the latter could stand some work in the passing game having recorded a mere six assists in 25 games.