Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
North Carolina Central
dthomas1WEB2.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
Racers Roll Past NCCU 84-61 At Coaches vs Cancer Classic
11/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers used a big run at the end of the first half to set up an 84-61 win Sunday over North Carolina Central in the Coaches vs Cancer Classic in Miami, Fla.
After NCCU tied the game at 24 with 5:00 remaining in the half, the Racers put their defense into high gear and finished it with a 15-0 run.
After two Ivan Aska free throws, MSU got a steal and a three-pointer from B.J. Jenkins plus another jumper to take a 31-24 lead with 3:06 left.
Donte Poole got an offensive rebound and basket that was followed by another steal and easy two by Danero Thomas. Jeffery McClain and Isaiah Canaan each hit a pair of free throws for a 39-24 lead for the Racers at the half.
MSU's lead grew to 21 points with 15:00 remaining when the score was 54-33 after a Tony Easley fast break dunk.
However NCCU did not go quietly.
Their 15-2 run cut the MSU lead to 62-53 with 7:53 remaining.
The Racers got control of the contest in the final minutes and took a 14-point lead on a Tony Easley inside basket with 4:32 remaining.
When Isaiah Canaan hit a three with 13.1 left, the Racers were able to end the game with their largest lead of the night.
Jenkins led the way for MSU with 16 points, with 15 coming from Aska. Thomas added 13, while Isacc Miles was the fifth Racer in double-figure scoring with 10.
Easley led MSU with seven rebounds.
The Racers (3-1) will finish their trio of games in Miami, Fla., Monday at 6 p.m. central time against the host Florida International Panthers.
GAME NOTES
After the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday, the Racers return home to face Tennessee Wesleyan at the RSEC Saturday.
The Racers have now won back to back neutral court games and are 4-8 in the Kennedy era. The Racers have played neutral court games in California, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and now Florida in the last four seasons.
Danero Thomas' 13 points means he's only 40 points from becoming the 35th member of the MSU 1000-Point Club.
Tony Easley had seven blocked shots in two games here in Miami. Against JMU (Nov. 20), he became the first Racer to record five blocked shots in a game since Pearson Griffith had eight against UT Martin in 2006. Easley now has 73 in his career which ranks him 11th on the MSU all-time list. Popeye Jones (1988-92) is 10th with 87, while Cuthbert Victor (2000-04) is the leader with 160.
MSU head coach Billy Kennedy won his 160th game in his 12th season as a head coach
