Murray State
Austin Peay
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Working Overtime - Racers Drop Classic Thriller At APSU
2/1/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers lost a heartbreaker of a game Thursday 92-87 in overtime to the Austin Peay Governors at the
The Racers also had their eight-game winning streak halted.
MSU had their work cut for them after falling behind 17-7 only 3:57 into the contest.
Tyler Holloway hit a three-pointer at the 13:53 mark, but the Racers were still behind by seven.
MSU drew to five points of the Govs at the 4:21 mark when Ray George fed Tony Easley for a dunk to make it a 50-35 game.
Holloway hit a pair of free throws for the final scoring of the half with Austin Peay leading 51-45. He had 17 points at the half and made all of MSU's three-pointers going 4-of-5.
MSU broke from the second half gate with an 8-2 run to tie the score at 53 with 16:38 left. Easley scored six of the MSU points in the run, the other two came from Bruce Carter's basket on an inbounds play.
Ray George gave MSU its first lead of the game seconds later when he hit a jumper for a 55-53 score.
The MSU defense that wasn't so good in the first half was outstanding in the second half. After APSU made a field goal at the 19:11 mark, MSU didn't allow another one until 13:29.
MSU's largest lead was 60-55 when Carter hit a three at 13:02, the Racer run since the half was 15-4.
Austin Peay came back to take the lead away from the Racers 63-62 on a fast break basket at the 8:00 mark.
The Racers lead was again four at the 3:33 mark when the Govs turned the ball over on a fast break that Holloway turned into an easy two for Danero Thomas.
With 29.2 left, Carter hit one free throw for a 76-74 MSU lead, but Wes Channels of APSU scored on an inbounds play with 16.6 left to tie it up.
Holloway got a shot off in the paint at the buzzer, but it was blocked by APSU's Todd Babington and the Racers were headed for their second overtime of the season.
The overtime period didn't start the way MSU wanted it to when Channels hit a three, then hit another after Holloway made a shot down the lane but was called for a charge. APSU's lead was 82-76 with 3:40 remaining.
Channels hit his third straight three with 39 seconds left, but Danero Thomas answered from the corner and the Austin Peay lead was 87-85 with 29 seconds left.
The Racers fouled Babington with 20 seconds left and he hit one of two free throws for another three point APSU lead.
George scored in the lane, but Channels hit two free throws with eight seconds left for another three point lead.
MSU didn't get a shot off in the final seconds.
Holloway led the Racers with 26 points, while Easley had a double-double with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bruce Carter scored 14, Danero Thomas had 13, and Ray George had 12 while playing a whopping 42 minutes.
GAME NOTES
MSU's next contest is Saturday at the
MSU's last two losses have both come in overtime. They also lost 83-80 at
The 51 points by APSU was the most scored on the Racers in any first half this season. The previous high was 47 on two occasions: Dec. 30 against
Holloway was 5-of-7 from three-point range and has 140 career long baskets ranking him in seventh place on the all-time MSU list. Chris Shumate (1999-04) is in sixth place with 170.
Holloway had career-highs in this game for field goals made (9) and field goals attempted (16). Easley's 18 points is a career high, one point better than his 17 this season at
MSU is now 69-37 all-time against Austin Peay and 22-25 at
