Murray State
SIU-Edwardsville
Racers win 11th straight season-opener, 75-67 over SIUE
11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Newcomer Trey Pearson's 28 points helped the Racers hold off a determined Southern Illinois-Edwardsville squad 75-67 in the Racers' 2004-05 season-opener at the Regional Special Events Center.
However, this one was not the easy contest some thought it would be.
The Racers didn't play poorly. SIU-Edwardsville played well, and the Racers are still trying to get on the same page.
The Racers have 12 new faces on the squad, and with Shawn Witherspoon (the only returner from 2003-04) out with a broken finger, the Racers had zero percent of their rebounding from last season available
"I can't let our guys get a false sense of security," Racers head coach Mick Cronin said. "I expected us to struggle tonight."
The Racers ended last season on a 15-game streak of holding their opponents under 50-percent shooting. Tonight, Edwardsville shot 51 percent against the Racers.
Cronin said the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
"Tonight was a great learning experience for us," he said, "because we played a team that took it to us."
"They played hard; they played together," said SIUE head coach Marty Simmons. "They pay attention to details and it's a very unselfish group. We've just got to build on this. No one else we face will apply the full-court pressure like this."
The Racers forced the Cougars into 21 turnovers.
Pearson's long-awaited debut in a Racer uniform was a success. Pearson played nearby at South Fulton (Tenn.) High School before playing at Mississippi, then transferring to Murray State.
Pearson was perfect from the free-throw line, making all 13 attempts. He hit 7-of-14 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and still had time to give out five assists.
"Obviously, Trey has talent," Cronin said. "However, I want him to be a complete player, and he's got to improve his defense for him to be the player I know he can be."
The Racers have now won 11 straight season-openers and haven't lost a home season-opener since 1982.
The Racers' next contest is Tuesday, when they host the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech at 7:15 p.m.
After the Thanksgiving break, the Racers travel to play at Missouri Nov. 28 in Columbia.
