Murray State
Eastern Illinois
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MSU Gets Defensive In 58-46 Victory Over EIU
1/23/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers got off to a great start in the first of a three-game home stand when they scored a 58-46 victory over the Eastern Illinois Panthers Thursday at the Regional Special Events Center.
MSU improved to 4-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 9-9 overall, while EIU dropped to 8-10 and 5-3.
“This was a hard fought game and it was a good win for us,” MSU Head Coach Billy Kennedy said. “Tonight we had some baskets in transition and we were able to score off of our defense.”
The Racers were able to even their league record with solid play from the start, including the first part of the second half.
Leading 26-21 at the half, MSU started the second half with a steal and Tony Easley slam for a 29-21 lead.
MSU's lead grew to 10 at 36-26 when Danero Thomas scored on a running shot in the lane at 12:49.
MSU's defense held EIU to 3-of-20 from the field for 15 percent in the second half with the game at the 6:14 mark and MSU in front 39-30.
MSU defended EIU's Romain Martin very well in the game. He came in scoring 15.7 points per game, but MSU held him to 1-of-10 shooting for only two points.
When EIU cut the MSU lead to seven, Isacc Miles nailed a long three-pointer and the Racers had a 44-34 lead with 5:09 remaining.
Danero Thomas hit a runner and Tyler Holloway followed with another three-pointer after EIU had cut the lead to six and the Racers led 49-40 with 2:22 left.
Kevin Thomas scored a three-point play at 1:51 and the Racers had the game out of reach 52-40.
Holloway led the Racers with 15 points, with Danero Thomas adding 14. Easley scored 10 to go along with eight rebounds.
The Racers ended the game shooting 37 percent on 19-of-51 shots, while holding EIU to 29 percent on 16-of-55 shooting.
MSU was 5-of-17 from three-point range for 29 percent, the Panthers hit 3-of-13 for 23 percent.
MSU hit 15-of-16 from the line for 93 percent which marked the fourth time this season they have shot 90 percent or better.
Kennedy made a line up change in the game and started Holloway and Easley in place of Kevin Thomas and Ivan Aska, to go along with Jeffery McClain, Danero Thomas, and Isacc Miles.
“We liked Holloway and Easley's experience and what they bring offensively,” Kennedy said. “We'll go with that (line up) again which allows another scorer on the floor.
Kennedy points to the team needing only confidence to get on a second half of the season run.
“We've got to get better, not a ton better,” Kennedy said. “We just need to get more confidence in our shots. It's coming our way now in a positive way and right now we have to take advantage of it.”
The first half went the Racers way as well.
MSU jumped to an 11-2 lead early on two three-pointers by Holloway. The treys pushed him into fourth place on the MSU all-time list.
EIU came back to tie the game at 13-13 with 8:34 left in the half, but it was followed by a 12-3 run that put the Racers in front 25-16 at 3:25.
Holloway made a steal and fed Kevin Thomas for an easy basket with 12 seconds to give the Racers a 32-26 lead at the half.
GAME NOTES
The MSU starting five tonight consisted of Isacc Miles, Danero Thomas, Jeffery McClain, Tyler Holloway, and Tony Easley. It was the first time this five had started a game this season.
MSU now leads the all-time series with EIU 29-7 including a 18-1 mark in
Billy Kennedy is now 4-1 against EIU.
The Racers all-time record at the RSEC in 11 seasons is now 124-24 (.837) and 86-15 (.851) in OVC play.
Tyler Holloway pushed past Marcus Brown (1993-96) and Paul King (1987-91) into sole possession of fourth place on the MSU all-time list for made three-point baskets with 174. Holloway hit three on the night and now has 176. Third place Justin Burdine (1998-02) has 198.
Holloway is also closing in on becoming the 34th member of the MSU 1,000-Point Club. He stands at 954.
The Racers hit 4-of-9 from the field in building an 11-4 lead to start the game, while EIU was 2-of-8.
MSU plays host to
Several Racers extended free throw shooting streaks against EIU. Jeffery McClain hit 2-of-2 and has hit 18 in a row. Tyler Holloway's streak is 10 after going 2-of-2, Danero Thomas was 5-of-5 and has a streak of seven, and Donte Poole's streak is six straight after hitting a pair.
