Colonels and Racers mix it up in OVC action

Jan 4, 2012 - 4:16 PM Murray, KY (Sports Network) - The 19th-ranked Murray State Racers are one of the lone undefeated teams left in the country, and they will take on the Eastern Kentucky Colonels tonight in Ohio Valley Conference action.

Eastern Kentucky will be looking to move to 4-0 in OVC play for the first time since the 1978-79 season. The Colonels have won six of their last seven games overall to move to 9-6 on the season, and they are fresh off a 73-68 decision over Tennessee State on New Year's Eve.

As for Murray State, it has ripped through the first 14 games of this season without a setback, and six of the last seven wins have come by double digits. The Racers moved to 2-0 in OVC play with a 73-40 romp over Eastern Illinois last Friday.

Murray State owns a 97-60 series advantage over Eastern Kentucky, which includes victories in each of the past six meetings.

Taking a look at Eastern Kentucky's victory over Tennessee State last time out, Jaron Jones led the way with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field. D'Mitri Riggs was impressive as well, as he tallied 16 points in 28 minutes. The Colonels made good on 53.2 percent of their shots from the floor in the affair and earned a 15-9 edge in points from the foul line. EKU is netting 65.4 ppg this season while allowing 63.1 ppg to opponents. Jones is the only player on the team averaging double figures in scoring this season, as he is netting 14.6 ppg on the strength of his stellar 57.8 percent field goal efficiency.

Isaiah Canaan is the top offensive performer for Murray State, as he is scoring 17.7 ppg on the strength of his 48.2 percent shooting from three-point range. More than just a scorer, he has handed out a team-best 57 assists. Donte Poole checks in with 12.7 ppg, and he is tops with 31 steals. As for Ivan Aska, he rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers with 12.6 ppg and leads the club with 6.0 rpg. Murray State is generating 75.1 ppg while limiting opponents to 58.9 ppg on 41.9 percent shooting from the floor. The Racers connected on 52.8 percent of their field goal attempts in the victory over Eastern Illinois last Friday, including a stellar 12-of-22 showing from three-point range. They committed just eight turnovers in that affair and held the overmatched Panthers to 27.1 percent field goal efficiency. Stacy Wilson scored 16 points off the bench to pace Murray State, while Jewuan Long added 14 points.