MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State’s men’s basketball team is raring to get the 2018-19 season underway. The Eagles will get their first taste of outside competition Thursday at 6:05 p.m. ET when Berea (Ky.) visits for an exhibition game.
The game can be heard live on the Eagle Sports Radio Network (WIVY-96.3 FM and WMST-106.9 FM and 1150 AM) and seen live on ESPN+ ($4.99/month fee or seven-day free trial).
“We have had a long spring and summer and a good fall so far,” said third year head coach Preston Spradlin, in his second year as the permanent bench boss. “We are ready to get out there and test ourselves against someone else. We have a lot of work left to go but I feel confident about this season.”
Berea made the move to NCAA Division III beginning in 2014. The Mountaineers finished 2017-18 at 7-17 and 3-13 in the conference. Whitesburg, Ky., native Torrell Carter led the team with 16.5 points and 4.5 assists per game and returns this season.
The Eagles return all five starters this season, led by Preseason All-OVC pick Lamontray Harris and leading returning scorer junior guard Jordan Walker. Walker tossed in 12.2 points per game with 17 double-figure efforts. Harris averaged 11.2 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds.
Also back in senior point guard A.J. Hicks, who had an NCAA single-game best and MSU record nine steals in a contest last year. Hicks averaged 11 points and dished out 122 assists.
The two other returning starters include junior guard Djimon Henson and sophomore forward Malek Green. Henson was the fourth Eagle to finish with a double scoring average at 10, while Green was consistent at 6.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per outing in his first full collegiate season.
Four other Eagles return, starting with sophomore shooting guard De’von Cooper. He chipped in 6.0 points per game and reached double-figures six times. Junior Alonzo Chatman will look for a larger role after scoring 2.4 per game, and sophomore forward James Baker has made great strides according to Spradlin. He shot 45 percent from the field last season. Guard Richard Feagin, Jr., saw limited action in 19 games but hit 44 percent from three-point range.
The newcomers include guard freshman guard Malik Riddle, freshman forward Sasha Sukhanov, freshman guard Tada Stricklen, redshirt freshman forward Ja’cori Wilson and freshman guard Malik Shabazz. Junior guard Justin Thomas is a transfer from Northern Illinois but will sit out the season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Following this action, the 2018-19 regular season gets started on Nov. 6 when MSU hosts Kentucky Christian.
