NCAA Pick: Unbeaten No 10 Murray St. Host SE Missouri St. Redhawks

Thursday, February 02, 2012

by Joe Rodriguez

Isaiah Canaan - NCAA Pick: Unbeaten No 10 Murray St. Host SE Missouri St. Redhawks

The nation's lone remaining unbeaten team, No. 10 Murray State Racers, puts its unblemished record and 17-game homecourt winning streak on the line Thursday against Ohio Valley Conference upstart Southeast Missouri State Redhawks.

The game could very well be the Racers' toughest home game of the season as the visiting Redhawks come into Murray, Ken., in second place in the OVC while sporting the league's best shooting team.

Murray State has the nation's longest winning streak at 21 while SEMO has won two straight and eight of 10.

- Southeast Missouri State Redhawks @ Murray State Racers
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 2, 2012
Where: CFSB Center, Murray, Kentucky
TV: 8: p.m. ET, ESPNU
Check Live NCAA Basketball Odds on Justbet Sportsbook .

Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Racers listed as 14½-point favorites versus the Redhawks.

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (12-9): Besides Murray State's unbeaten run, the Redhawks have been the biggest surprise in the OVC. SEMO was picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll and have already surpassed last season's totals for overall wins (10) and conference victories (6). The Redhawks have shot better than 50 percent from the field in seven of nine league games, leading the OVC and ranking 10th nationally in field goal percentage (.494), including almost 52 percent in conference play. SEMO has the top two percentage shooters in the league; Leon Powell and Marcus Brister. Tyler Stone leads the team in scoring (15.0) and shares team rebounding honors with Powell at 7.3. Marland Smith averages 12.4 points and Powell adds 11.6. Head coach Dickey Nutt has two sons on the team; senior Logan and sophomore Lucas.

Murray State Racers (21-0): The Racers allow a league low 60.9 points and opponents to shoot just 42 percent from the field. The talented backcourt of Isaiah Canaan and Donte Poole continue to fuel the rise of MSU. Canaan leads the team in scoring (18.7), assists (3.8) and three-point field goals (3.0) while Poole is second in scoring (14.7, but 17.1 in OVC games) while leading the team and OVC in steals (2.2). Senior forward Ivan Aska, the team's third leading scorer (12.3) and leading rebounder (5.8), returned in last Saturday's win over Eastern Illinois after missing the previous six games with a broken hand. Aska played 11 minutes and scored eight points while grabbing three rebounds. MSU was selected to host 16th-ranked Saint Mary's in the Bracket Buster game on Feb. 18. The Gaels, 21-2, lead the West Coast Conference and would be the second ranked team to play the Racers this season if they stay in the Top 25.

1. Murray State has dominated the all-time series against Southeast Missouri, leading 44-18 including four straight wins at the CFSB Center. The Racers have won 11 straight OVC regular season games dating back to last February when SEMO claimed a 64-57 win in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2. Southeast Missouri is 0-8 all-time against ranked opponents, including a season-opening loss at then No. 25 Missouri. This will be the first time SEMO has faced a Top 10 team since Dec. 2005 when the Redhawks lost at then No. 6 Illinois.

3. Murray State's 17-game homecourt winning streak is tied for the 10th longest in the nation, and going back to the 2009-10 season, the Racers have won 38 of 40 at home.

BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Racers 76, Redhawks 59.

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cfsb center - dickey nutt - donte poole - isaiah canaan - ivan aska - leon powell - marcus brister - marland smith - murray state racers - southeast missouri state redhawks

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