Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Reinhardt
Racers Pick Up 84-70 Win Against Reinhardt
11/20/2010 10:02:53 PM | Men's Basketball
Boxscore
Boxscore (pdf)
The Murray State Racers pushed their home court winning streak to 21 straight Saturday with an 84-70 win over Reinhardt at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
The Racers' final home game until Dec. 15 served as a tune-up for their trip next week to the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif., where MSU will face Stanford on Thanksgiving Day in the first of three games in the event.
The Racers (2-1) led 17-9 with 11:12 before half when they put together a 12-2 run for a 29-11 lead only three minutes later.
MSU's 15-point halftime lead was whittled to nine (49-40) with 15:50 remaining, however MSU responded to take a 62-47 lead at the 11:07 mark on the strength of making 8-9 from the free throw line.
The Racers' lead grew to 18 (67-49) when Isacc Miles knocked down a three-pointer at the 9:50 mark.
MSU's lead grew to as many as 20 with 8:04 left before the final was decided.
MSU Head Coach Billy Kennedy was unhappy with the Racers' 19 turnovers on the night.
“It's about us playing better and taking good care of the ball,” Kennedy said. “We're still turning the ball over way too many times. Our seniors aren't playing like seniors all the time.”
Isaiah Canaan and Donte Poole led the MSU attack each with 12 points and they were a combined 7-12 from three-point range.
MSU finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field (28-51) and 46 percent from three-point range (6-13).
Kennedy also discussed the Racers' appearance in next week's 76 Classic.
“The quality of opponents there will be a great experience,” Kennedy said. “I talked to Brad Stevens (Butler Head Coach) and he said they got something positive out of it even though they lost two of three.”
“We're 2-1 and are we ready for the tournament we've got coming up?” Kennedy added. “No, but we've got some time to get ready and I know our guys will be excited to go out there and play.”
NOTES
MSU pushed its home win streak in the CFSB Center to 21 straight which gives them the fifth-best streak in the nation, behind Kansas 62, Siena 39, Xavier 27, Duke 22. Kentucky has the sixth top streak at 20. The Racers next chance to extend the streak isn't until dec. 15 when they host Bethel, with a Dec. 18 tilt with Western Kentucky coming after that. Between now and then, MSU has the three games at the 76 Classic then the early start to the Ohio Valley Conference season with road games at Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State. MSU also plays at Chattanooga Dec. 11.
MSU has won 42 straight games when leading at the five-minute mark of the second half. MSU has won 11 straight when scoring 80 or more points.
