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Men's Hoops' 2019-20 Slate Features 15 Home Games and Contests in the Hall of Fame Classic

MSU Athletics

Fifteen regular-season home contests, three of which are against foes who made appearances in national postseason tournaments a season ago, and games in the Hall of Fame Classic highlight Morehead State's 2019-20 men's basketball slate.

"The opportunity to play 15 games this year in front of our fans, who have been near the top of the OVC the past few years, was important," said head coach Preston Spradlin, who led MSU to the biggest upward jump in its respective conference standings last year. "We were also able to welcome in some new opponents who haven't been to Johnson Arena or haven't been in a while. We were able to get them here during the week so we can embrace our great student turnout and our Greek community so we can have a home court advantage and a great atmosphere in Johnson Arena."

Information on tip-off times, season and single-game tickets and promotions will be available soon.

The Eagles' non-conference slate includes home tilts with CollegeInsider.com tournament participants IUPUI (Dec. 4) and Marshall (Dec. 16), along with the regular-season opener against Samford (Nov. 5). Fans can get their first taste of the Eagles with an exhibition against Kentucky Christian on Oct. 29.

Other non-conference home opponents include Spalding (Ky.) (Nov. 7) and Alice Lloyd (Ky.) (Dec. 28).

"We have some very challenging opponents prior to the OVC season, which is what we wanted to do when putting together our non-conference schedule," Spradlin added.

The Hall of Fame Classic, presented by ShotTracker, will also feature one home game with Maryland-Eastern Shore (Nov. 16). The remaining games will be on the road at Missouri (Nov. 20), Butler (Nov. 22) and William and Mary (Nov. 26). The game at Butler will give seniors Jordan Walker and Djimon Henson, along with transfer Justin Thomas, the opportunity to play in their hometown.

"Missouri is an SEC opponent who we saw last year, so it gives us a great measuring stick to see how we match up against a team that we played last year," said Spradlin. "We played Butler two years ago, but it gives us the unique opportunity to get three of our upperclassmen back to play in front of their friends and families.

"Getting into the Hall of Fame Classic not only gives us two Power Five road games but also the opportunity to play William and Mary and a home game in the event too with Maryland-Eastern Shore. And we have some new opponents that will challenge us as well."

The Eagles will additionally face four other non-conference battles away from campus - Presbyterian (Nov. 14), North Alabama (Nov. 30), Illinois State (Dec. 7) and Ohio (Dec. 21).

Butler and Presbyterian made postseason appearances in 2018-19.

The 18-game Ohio Valley Conference slate kicks off with four straight home games. Jacksonville State (Jan. 2), Tennessee Tech (Jan. 4), SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 9) and Eastern Illinois (Jan. 11) will visit early in the league race.

"Three of our first four games will be at home, so it allows us to get some momentum going early," Spradlin commented. "Having four straight home games to open up the conference schedule is also certainly a positive."

Other league home games include Southeast Missouri (Jan. 30), UT Martin (Feb. 1), Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 13) and Tennessee State (Feb. 22). The Eagles will play Murray State (Feb. 15) and Austin Peay (Feb. 27) just once on the road during conference play. Murray State and Belmont (Jan. 18 at Belmont, Feb. 20 at home) round out the Eagles' tilts with 2018-20 postseason squads.

The OVC Tournament is once again at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. and will take place March 4-7.

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