Murray State vs Morehead State: 2021-22 keys to OVC matchup

Key players for Murray State

These teams’ styles are certainly different. The Racers are more run and gun, up-temp and tenacious perimeter defense. Murray’s Tevin Brown is closing in on becoming the OVC’s all-time leader in three-point baskets and epitomizes the Murray approach.

The 6’5 Brown leads the OVC’s most prolific offense (82.4 ppg) and is the conference’s leading individual scorer (17.7 ppg), but he also seventh in assists and ninth in steals. Brown leads the league in triples and makes nearly 80% of his shots from the line. He is a high-flying dunker and lends a hand on the glass (5.6 rebounds per game). Brown is electric and plays more minutes than any OVC player.

Challenging Broome will be the OVC’s second leading rebounder and third leading scorer, K.J. Williams. The 6’10 junior averages 16.8 points per game and has led the team in scoring seven times, collecting a season-high 33 points during a recent game with UT Martin. Williams is the one OVC center that could be considered a near equal to Broome.

Justice (Juice) Hill (13.1 ppg) recently rang up 36 points on Belmont. Hill (45) and Brown (69) have combined to make over 100 three-pointers in the Racers’ first 20 games.

While Morehead attempts to funnel opponents to Broome’s shot-blocking abilities, the Racers want to turn opponents over. Four Racers, including Trae Hannibal and D.J. Burns, are among the OVC’s top 14 steals leaders.

Hannibal, the South Carolina transfer, flies under the radar a bit, but averages 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and leads the team with 28 steals. The 6’2 guard is strong and attacks the lane. Despite playing the sixth most minutes on the team he has more free-throw attempts than any Murray contributor.

Burns and Carter Collins start along with Brown, Williams, and Hill.