Murray State
Southeast Missouri
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Title Town - MSU Wins 21st OVC Championship
2/17/2010 3:20:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Murray State Racers made it a special night when they clinched the school's 21st Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship in an 80-68 win over Southeast Missouri State at the Regional Special Events Center in Murray, Ky.
The championship is MSU's first since the 2005-06 season and the first for head coach Billy Kennedy in his fourth season.
Kennedy, who pushed the Racers to three second-place finishes in his first three seasons, reflected on how far the team has come since he arrived.
"I was thinking today back when I first took this job and that first day," he said. "I thought, 'what did I get myself into?' Once I learned of all the causalities and the guys leaving the program and the transfers, issues and so many negative things happened the first month I was really concerned."
"I thought I had myself in a bad situation," Kennedy added. "But I think tonight is a real tribute to my faith in God and he got me through all of this. I don't think I could have gotten though all of that by myself."
Kennedy's trio of seniors, Tony Easley, Danero Thomas and Georges Fotso has been a big part.
"In 2006, I didn't contribute," said Easley, who was a redshirt at the time. "I didn't put the blood, sweat and tears into that season like I did this year. This one shows that if you put in the hard work you can reap the benefits."
For Thomas who became the 35th member of the MSU 1000-Point Club this season, nothing compares to winning a championship.
"It's incredible to win it at home, get the regular season championship and cut down the nets," Thomas said. "We're doing this for the fans and everyone that has supported this program. We're just enjoying this night, it's wonderful."
The Racers moved the nation's longest winning streak to 16 with the win and improved their overall mark to 25-3 and 16-0 in the OVC.
Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner, was on hand to present the championship trophy to Kennedy and the team while thousands of Racer fans looked on.
Plenty of photos were taken as each coach and student-athlete cut down the nets in the RSEC.
Kennedy shared the moment with his wife Mary and daughter Anna Cate.
"My wife and my daughter mean everything to me," Kennedy said. "They're a big part of our program, they've been to every game since we've arrived and whatever happens with this program, they are a big part of."
