RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team begins Ohio Valley Conference action Thursday night when the Colonels welcome Murray State to McBrayer Arena. Wazoo Sports will be televising the game live beginning at 8 p.m.

This is the sixth consecutive year that EKU (3-3) has opened league action against Murray State (3-3).

Senior Justin Stommes is quickly approaching the 1,000-point milestone. The native of Cold Spring, Minn., needs just 12 points to become the 30th Eastern Kentucky player to reach that plateau. Stommes scored a team-high 15 points in the previous meeting against the Racers.

Murray State returns eight of its top 10 players from last year’s team that finished 31-5 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Guard B.J. Jenkins, the team’s leading scorer at 10.2 ppg, tallied 22 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting night in the last match-up at EKU.

The Racers have won four straight meetings over the Colonels and lead the all-time series by a count of 93-61.

Following Thursday’s game, Eastern is right back in action Saturday night, Dec. 4 with a home game against OVC foe UT Martin.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--Wazoo Sports (18.2 in Lexington, 11.3 in Louisville)

Video Streaming
--Thursday’s game can be seen on the web for free at www.ESPN3.com.

Live Audio
--Tuesday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Tickets
--Tickets are available by calling the EKU ticket office at 859-622-2122. The ticket box office will open at 4:30 p.m., one hour prior to the women’s contest. Arena doors will open at 4:30 p.m., as well.

Directions
--Click here for directions to Eastern Kentucky University.

Storylines
--In the previous meeting between the two teams on Feb. 27, 2010, Murray State shot 61.7 percent (29-of-47) from the floor in the 88-74 win over Eastern Kentucky. Murray State’s shooting percentage was the highest allowed by EKU in 2009-10.

--Through six games, five different Colonels have led the team in scoring in at least one game. Sophomore Willie Cruz finished with a personal-high 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting from the floor against Cincinnati Christian College on Nov. 23.