Racers Drop 71-66 Game To Tech - Host UTM Saturday - Murray State University Athletics

Thursday, February 28

Cookeville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Murray State

Tennessee Tech (ESPNU)

Racers Drop 71-66 Game To Tech - Host UTM Saturday

2/28/2008 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

The Murray State Racers dropped a hard-fought 71-66 game at Tennessee Tech Thursday and fell to 16-12 overall and 12-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Racers can still clinch the second seed in the OVC Tournament with a win Saturday on senior day at the Regional Special Events Center when they host UT-Martin at 7:30 p.m.

After falling behind 7-0, the Racers got a three-point play from Danero Thomas to make it a 9-7 Tech lead at the 15:43 mark of the first half.

Thomas hit a three-pointer moments later and the Racers were down by two, 11-9.

The Racers had their first lead when Carter hit a three in transition for a 25-24 lead at the 6:31 mark.

Tyler Holloway hit another long shot with 4:55 left for another one-point MSU lead at 28-27.

The first half ended with Tech in front 38-34 after Frank Davis hit a three-pointer and Anthony Fisher scored after a Racer miss.

Murray State started the second half with a 9-3 run getting baskets from Danero Thomas, a pair of free throws from Bruce Carter for a 43-41 lead with 15:38 left.

After falling behind by five, the Racers regained the lead at the 8:00 mark on a three from Danero Thomas.

MSU took a two point lead with 4:30 left when Marvin Williams scored on a drive.

With 3:22 remaining, the Golden Eagles had a 61-60 lead when Daniel Northern scored over Easley.

The Racers were down 64-60 when Carter reentered the game after sitting out with his fourth personal foul at the 6:28 mark. He hit a shot in the paint to make it a two-point TTU lead with 2:15 left.

Again, Carter hit a shot in the lane to make it a two point game with 1:35 left, seconds later the Racers made a steal, but Carter was called for traveling going in for a tying dunk.

MSU forced another TTU turnover, but Kevin Thomas' try for the equaling points in a drive down the lane was no good.

MSU fouled Fisher with 26.8 seconds left, he missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Tech's Northern was fouled. The officials ruled he was bleeding and was replaced by Frank Davis who hit both shots for a 68-64 Tech lead.

The Racers never had a chance to tie in the final seconds in the 71-66 final.

Danero Thomas and Carter paced the Racer attack with 15 points each.

GAME NOTES

The Racers are now 113-45 all-time against Tennessee Tech and 41-36 in Cookeville, Tenn. The home team has won the last six games in the series.

Bruce Carter now has 18 straight games with 10 or more points.

The Racers now prepare for Saturday's regular season final when they welcome the Skyhawks of Tennessee-Martin to the Regional Special Events Center. The Racers have never lost to UTM at home in 17 meetings. The game will mark senior day for Bruce Carter and Ray George. A ceremony honoring the Racer pair will take place before the game. MSU has won their last five senior day games and haven't lost one since 2002 when Morehead State beat MSU in the RSEC.