Tech can't stop streaking Racers, fall 94-62 in Eblen Center
Murray State shot 70 percent in the second half and pulled away to a 94-62 victory over the Golden Eagles Thursday night in Eblen Center. It ran the Racers' record to 14-0 in the OVC and was their 21st consecutive league victory.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – League-leading Murray State rolled to
its 21st consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular season victory
and improved to 14-0 in the league this year with a 94-62 win at
Tennessee Tech Thursday night.
It was a 14-0 run over the end of the first half and the start of
the second which proved to make the difference and the Racers built
from there.
The Racers (23-3 overall) also stretched their overall win streak
to 14 consecutive games, two shy of the school’s all-time
best.
Tech (12-13 overall) slipped to 6-8 within the league and will try
to regroup Saturday when it hosts UT Martin.
Four players scored in double figures for MSU, led by B.J. Jenkins
with 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Tony Easley added 11 points
while Edward Daniel and Isacc Miles netted 10 each.
The Racers connected on 63.5 percent of their shots from the field
(33-for-52) and had a 32-25 advantage in rebounds.
Tech had three players in double digits while shooting 36.7 percent
(18-for-49) from the field. Sophomore Kevin Murphy led the Golden
Eagles with 16 points, Elijah Muhammad had 14 and Zach Bailey
scored 13.
The two teams sparred throughout the first 10 minutes, with each
team owning an edge and the score tied three times. Tech went up by
a 15-14 count with 9:08 to play in the period on a tip-in by Alfred
Jones, but the Racers regained the lead at 7:59 on a tip-in by
Daniel Edwards.
The Racers held the lead through the next five minutes, but saw
their lead trimmed to three points, 28-25, following a 3pointer by
Frank Davis and a layup by Terrell Barnes.
Tony Easley scored six points for Murray State in the final 2:20 as
the Racers closed the half with an 8-0 run and headed into the
dressing room with a 36-25 lead.
The Racers opened the second half with a 6-0 run, making it a
combined 14-0 stretch to build a 17-point lead. Twice Tech cut the
deficit to single digits, pulling to within nine with the last time
being at 48-39 with 15:29 remaining.
The Racers shot 70 percent in the second half and continued to
build on their advantage. The largest lead was 34 points, 94-60, in
the final minute.
The Golden Eagles stay home Saturday night to host UT Martin with
tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Athletic
Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.
