Murray State
Tennessee
Murray State falls 89-64 At Tennessee
12/1/2006 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers battled the Tennessee Vols Friday in an 89-64 loss at Thompson-Boling Arena in
MSU played in UT's Thompson-Boling arena for the first time since they appeared in the 1990 NCAA Tournament against
Basketball is a game of runs and the Racers found that out in the first half.
MSU fell behind 13-4 to start the game as
The Racers were down 19-4 after a Chris Lofton three with 12:13 left in the half, but responded with an 11-0 run to get back in the game. Bruce Carter scored on a fast break and then hit a three pointer to draw the Racers to seven points behind the Vols. MSU's Dwayne Paul scored on another break and was fouled, he hit the free throw and the Racers were down 19-15 with 10:06 before the half.
The Racers cut the UT lead to 14 at the half with a late three-point play from Daniel Ard.
MSU trailed 42-28 at the break.
The Racers started the second half on a 7-0 run to cut the
The Vols answered with their own 15-0 run and put the game away.
Wayne Chism scored on a fast break slam dunk and the Racers were down 57-35 with 15:04 left in the game.
The Racers are still looking for their first road win of the season after an 89-64 final.
No Racer player made it to double-figures in scoring. Marvin Williams, Danero Thomas and Holloway led MSU with nine points each.
The Racers shot .408 (20-49) from the field, while the Vols shot .435 (27-62). MSU went to the free throw line 30 times and made 19 for 63 percent. UT hit 24 of 35 from the line for 68 percent.
The Vols had a big advantage in rebounding. MSU lost the battle 43-30.
GAME NOTES:
The Racers return home Monday to face the Ravens of Anderson University. The game tips off at the
Shawn Witherspoon continues to take steps toward becoming the 33rd member of the MSU 1,000-Point Club. Witherspoon scored eight points in the
MSU played in UT's Thompson-Boling arena for the first time since they appeared in the 1990 NCAA Tournament against
The Racers had the same starting five in back to back games for the first time since the first two games of the season. Shawn Witherspoon made his 38th straight start, while Tyler Holloway started his eighth straight. Witherspoon and Holloway have started every one of the Racers eight games. Ed Horton, Rob Kennedy and Danero Thomas also made starts tonight.
MSU is now 8-30 all-time against teams from the Southeastern Conference. MSU's last win against an SEC team came on Christmas Day 1997 when they defeated
The Racers trailed at the half against
Tyler Holloway missed his first free throw of the season when he went to the line with 8:56 left. He made the first of a two-shot foul making him 8-8 on the season and then missed the second attempt. Holloway has proved to be an excellent free throw shooter as a Racer, he is 36 of 42 (.857).
