Murray State University Athletics
Racers to face Vols in Nashville
6/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers will take on the Tennessee Volunteers on the hardcourt on Nov. 30 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn., according to an announcement made by the Nashville Sports Council this afternoon.
The meeting is the first between these teams since Feb. 24, 1945, when the Vols beat Murray State 57-38 in Knoxville, the only other time these teams have met. It marks the third time in five seasons that the Racers have faced teams from the Southeastern Conference, including Georgia (March 15, 2002) and Auburn (Dec. 14, 2002).
"Obviously, this is a great game for Murray State basketball," said MSU head coach Mick Cronin. "Playing Tennessee and Coach (Bruce) Pearl -- for whom I have great respect -- is exciting, and playing in Nashville is even better.
"I am excited our fans will get the opportunity to attend this game, and I hope that -- with a strong show of support -- we can continue this type of game in the future."
"This is a great opportunity for our university and our fans," said MSU director of athletics Allen Ward. "It gives us a chance to compete at the highest level and showcase our tradition-rich basketball program against a quality SEC opponent. The strong support I expect from Racer fans for this game will pay big dividends for our program in the future."
"We're excited to play in front of one of our largest fan bases in middle Tennessee," UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "This is a great opportunity to give our middle Tennessee fans a chance to see this team's new style of play."
The game will be played at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, the site of several Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournaments and the host site of the first and second rounds of the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
"We're excited about this announcement, and look forward to working with the Sports Council, Murray State and the Tennessee Volunteers," said Hugh Lombardi, senior vice president and general manager of the Gaylord Entertainment Center and Powers Management.
The game time and ticket information are yet to be determined. For more information on this event, visit www.NashvilleSports.com or call the Nashville Sports Council at (615) 743-3120.
The Nashville Sports Council is a private, not-for-profit, membership based organization of area corporations and individual sports enthusiasts. Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council's mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sports.
