Murray State
North Carolina
.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
Racers Give #10 North Carolina A Scare Before Falling By Four
3/17/2006 8:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Murray State University was tied with 10th ranked North Carolina with 43 seconds left in the game but the third seeded Tar Heels held on to defeat the 14th seeded Racers, 69-65, tonight in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. MSU led by one at halftime and by four in the second half but couldn't hold of the defending national champions.
Murray State, the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament champion, finishes its season with a 24-7 record. North Carolina moves to 23-7 and will play George Mason on Sunday at 2:20 p.m. ET.
“Tonight we gave our best effort,” MSU Head Coach Mick Cronin said. “I don't think anybody in the arena would question that. As a coach you have to say it's a win, but we're not into moral victories. I'm proud of our team. I'm certainly proud of individual performances, but in no way shape or form are we satisfied.”
“Well, we feel very fortunate to say the least,” said North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams. “We have to congratulate Murray State. We knew it was going to be a heck of a game. I really like Mick's club, I like the way they play.”
The Racers were forced to play 80 percent of the game without one of their best players. Junior Shawn Witherspoon left near the 12 minute mark with a foot injury and did not return. Before leaving, Witherspoon had made two-of-four shots from the field, including one-of-three from the line, for five points. He also grabbed four rebounds, three of which were off the offensive glass, and had one steal.
“Shawn Witherspoon not being with us, obviously it didn't help us not having him, but we make no excuses,” said Cronin. “Other guys stepped up, Issian [Redding] played tremendous in Shawn's absence.”
Redding would finish with 12 points off the bench. He made four-of-10 from the field and four-of-five from the charity stripe. The Sandusky, Ohio native grabbed four rebounds and had three steals.
