Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Niagara
MSU's Second Half Lead Goes Away In 80-71 Loss To Niagara
12/29/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers lost a 12-point second half lead in an 80-71 game
The Racers fell to 6-6 on the season.
The Racers jumped out to a nine-point lead 15-6 on a coast-to-coast play by Isacc Miles, but
The game was still tied at 6:15 when the score was 27-27.
MSU came alive in the final minutes of the half getting key baskets from Danero Thomas who hit a three-pointer and inside baskets from Georges Fotso and Tony Easley as MSU ended the half on an 11-4 run for a 40-33 lead at the break.
MSU started the second half with a 9-4 run to build their biggest lead of 12 points at 49-37. Back-to-back steals led to baskets by Jeffery McClain for the MSU surge.
After a runner in the lane by Donte Poole, NU took its first lead of the second half on a straightaway three from Bilal Benn at 8:56.
The Racers could not get the lead back.
Tony Easley scored a slam dunk on a put back, but MSU trailed 70-63 with 4:07 remaining.
Danero Thomas led the Racers with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while Kevin Thomas had a season-best 11 points. Ivan Aska tossed in 10 points for MSU.
The Racers could not stop the Purple Eagles in the second half as
For the game, MSU shot 44 percent and NU 41 percent.
The Racers have finished a December in which they had to negotiate seven games all away from home and posted a 2-5 mark.
MSU gets back to Ohio Valley Conference play Monday at UT Martin before returning home to the
