Danero Thomas News

Going into Thursday's matchup with the very-defensively-minded Murray State, the Colonels knew it was a tough challenge they were facing.

The Colonels are on a four-game winning streak after gaining a lot of confidence last week in the CBE Classic.

Tony Easley had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead Murray State in a 71-43 rout of James Madison on Friday.

GAME NOTES: The California Golden Bears enter the 2009-10 campaign with lofty expectations, and they will try to get started on a positive note when they entertain the Murray State Racers tonight in a Coaches vs.

Jerome Randle scored 18 points and 13th-ranked California opened its season by holding off Murray State, 75-70, as part of the 2K Sports Coaches vs.

Last season, California reached its first NCAA tournament in three years. In 2009-10, coach Mike Montgomery's team appears primed to make a run even deeper into March.

A Cal basketball season that comes with more expectations and promise than any this decade opens tonight, not with a glamorous trip to Madison Square Garden but against an opponent with a modest profile and solid resume.

No.2 isn't good enough at Murray State. Coach Billy Kennedy has proved he can guide the Racers to good seasons but not great ones.

The spiffy new video boards in the Regional Special Events Center debuted Thursday with a moving multimedia tribute that highlighted Murray State's grand tradition of basketball success that dates back to the earliest days of the institution.