Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Racers lose nail-biter to Tech
2/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior forward Issian Redding scored a career-high 19 points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds tonight, but it wasn't enough as the Murray State Racers fell to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 72-68. Redding's 19 points were also a game-high, as he went 5-of-10 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark from three-point range.
With the win and a Samford loss to Eastern Kentucky tonight, Tennessee Tech (13-9, 8-3 OVC) is tied for first place with Samford in the conference standings. Murray State (12-9, 7-4 OVC) now is part of an unusual four-team tie for third place, along with Southeast Missouri, Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay.
"With the balance and parity in our league, every night is an experience," Tennessee Tech head coach Mike Sutton said. "Coming in to tonight, we were two baskets away from being 5-5, and two baskets away from being 9-1. The OVC Tournament will be great this year. Nashville will be exciting and unpredictable."
Keyon Boyd led the Golden Eagles with 16 points, converting on all of his free throw attempts (9-for-9). The OVC Pre-Season Player of the Year Willie Jenkins had 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals, while Derek Stribling also had 13 points. Milone Clark added 10 points, while Amadi McKenzie chipped in nine points and five rebounds on 4-of-4 shooting in only 22 minutes.
For the Racers, Darnell Hopkins and Shawn Witherspoon, who had started 15 and 19 consecutive games respectively, came off the bench to score 11 and 10 points. Freshman Justin Orr, making just his third start of the season, scored nine points, pulled down six rebounds and had two assists, two blocks and two steals. Keith Jenifer handed out a game-high five assists for the Racers.
The game went back and forth throughout the first half, but a Shane Dansby jumper with 8:03 left gave Murray a 22-21 lead it wouldn't look back on for the rest of the half. The score was 33-27 in favor of Murray State at halftime.
A lay-up by Trey Pearson pushed the Racer lead out to 40-32 with 15:29 left in the second half, but an 8-0 Tennessee Tech run in 1:19 left the score at 40-40 off a Boyd three-pointer. A Stribling free throw to complete a three-point play gave Tennessee Tech a 52-51 lead at 8:48. Tech would lead for the next 2:56, until an Orr lay-up off a Tech turnover tied the score at 58 with 5:53 left. However, two Racer turnovers on the next two possessions led to a dunk and lay-up by Clark, and the Racers never took the lead again.
The Racers return to action against Austin Peay at home on Saturday, a game televised nationally by ESPN2. Tipoff time is set for 1 p.m., and all fans are encouraged to wear gold.
