NCAA Basketball Picks: Unbeaten Murray State vs Tennessee-Martin
Saturday, February 04, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Two teams at the opposite end of the college basketball spectrum battle as No. 9 and unbeaten Murray State Racers visits Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks, the last-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Murray State, coming off a big comeback victory at home on Thursday over Southeast Missouri, continues to sport the nation's lone unblemished record as it takes its school and OVC-record 22-0 mark to Tennessee to take on a Skyhawks team that has lost 12 straight and has not beaten a Division I team since late November.
- Murray State Racers @ Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 4, 2012
Where: Skyhawk Arena, Martin, Tennessee
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Racer TV Network, ESPN Full Court, ESPN3.com
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Racers listed as 16-point favorites versus the Skyhawks.
Murray State Racers (22-0): The Racers rallied from 11-point deficits in both halves Thursday en route to a 81-73 home victory over second-place Southeast Missouri. It was the second-largest deficit Murray State has overcome this season and ran its home winning streak to 18. Isaiah Canaan scored 24 of his 32 points in the second half, including 16 during a decisive 24-2 run. The junior guard, who leads the team in scoring (19.3), hit four 3-pointers in that stretch, and six for the game. Senior forward Ivan Aska, the team's leading rebounder (6.1), notched his third double-double of the year Thursday with 10 points and 11 rebounds, but first since returning last weekend after missing six games with a broken hand.
Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (3-21): The Skyhawks shot a season-high 62 percent from the field Thursday and still lost at home to Jacksonville State 85-74. Freshman Myles Taylor led Martin with 16 points. Taylor is second on the team in scoring (12.7) and leads in rebounding (4.8), field goal percentage (51.0) and blocked shots (17). Mike Liabo leads the Skyhawks in scoring (15.2), assists (2.9) and 3-point field goals (2.2). Martin allows 75 points per game and is among the worst in the nation in field goal percentage defense at better than 51 percent. The Skyhawks have lost four games by six points or less and another in double overtime.
1. Murray State has won six in a row in the series, including a 78-54 pounding in the OVC opener in December.
2. Saturday's game will be the fourth for Martin against a ranked team. The Skyhawks lost to Louisville, Mississippi State and Murray State.
3. Canaan has led the team in scoring in 13 of 22 games, topped the 20-point mark 10 times and has scored more than 30 three times.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Racers 76, Skyhawks 58.
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isaiah canaan - ivan aska - mike liabo - murray state racers - myles taylor - skyhawk arena - tennessee-martin skyhawks
