Murray State
Samford
MSU Solves Samford Puzzle in 57-51 Victory
1/29/2007 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers came from 14 points down in the first half to post a 57-51 win at Samford Monday in their final game at 45-year old Seibert Hall in
Shawn Witherspoon, the OVC's Preseason Player of the Year, scored nine points in a MSU 10-0 run in the second half and finished the game with 15 points.
However, before the Racers could win the game, they had to overcome their worst nightmare at the outset.
The Bulldogs jumped out of the gate and grabbed a 14-point lead with 10:41 remaining in the half. Joe Ross Merritt did most of the damage by scoring 11 points on 5-6 shooting.
MSU got control of the game on defense and had a stretch where they held Samford to no points in five straight possessions and were able to cut the Bulldogs lead to three with 3:35 left.
The Racers did it when they dialed up the defense and held Samford to 11 straight possessions with zero points. After the bulldogs scored at the 10:41 mark, they did not move their score until two Jerry Smith free throws at the 1:12 mark. During that time, the Racers put together a 13-0 run to cut the lead to 21-18.
During the MSU run, the Racers got baskets from Danero Thomas who hit a three-pointer to cut the Bulldogs lead to 11, followed by a Tony Easley tip-in to cut the lead to 21-12 with 7:30 left. Bruce Carter scored a three-point play and Tyler Holloway followed with a three-pointer; the Samford lead was 21-18 with 3:35 left in the half.
The half ended with Ed Horton hitting a runner down the lane to cut the lead to one with 1:39 left.
Samford's only points in the final 10:41 came when Smith hit two free throws with 1:12 left to end the scoring for the half with the Bulldogs in front 23-20.
MSU fell behind by eight in the second half at the 16:49 mark, but cut the lead to two on a Holloway three: Samford was in front 35-33 with 12:11 left to play.
Finally, the Racers managed to claw their way into a tie (38-38) on a three and put back by Witherspoon with 10:11 remaining.
Witherspoon, who didn't score in the first half, gave the Racers their first lead when he hooked an over the shoulder-no look pass to Dwayne Paul to put the Racers ahead 40-38 at the 8:30 mark.
MSU's amazing transformation didn't stop there.
Holloway and Horton hit back to back jumpers and the Racers had erased a 14-point deficit and turned it into a 10-point lead by outscoring the Bulldogs 41-17. MSU held a 48-38 advantage with 5:05 remaining.
Samford didn't back down and cut the MSU lead to one on a three by Merritt with 1:31 left.
The Racers hit six straight free throws to seal a 57-51 win, snapping Samford's nine game home winning streak.
Witherspoon led the way for MSU with 15 points, all in the second half, on 5-7 shooting. Bruce Carter added 10.
The Racers shut down Samford center Peterson holding him to no points on 0-2 shooting.
MSU can win three straight for the first time this season when they host Austin Peay Thursday at the
