Murray State University Athletics
Sunday, December 11
Memphis, Tenn.
5 p.m.
Murray State
76
at
72
(21) Memphis
Photo by: Murray State Sports Information
Racers Catch Tigers By The Tail In 76-72 Win over #21/20 Memphis
12/11/2011 8:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery
34 total fast break points. 38 combined points off turnovers. Four lead changes.
And one Murray State win.
The Racers kept their perfect season intact Sunday night, holding off the hometown Memphis Tigers 76-72 in an action-packed contest in front of 16,795 fans at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
MSU received contributions from everyone on the court, scoring their first two baskets on consecutive possessions with layups in transition from Jewuan Long and Isaiah Canaan to jump ahead early 4-0. Ed Daniel stretched out the lead to six, sinking a pair of free throws, and after Memphis made its first basket of the night to bring the score back to 6-2, Donte Pool hit a three pointer that was followed by a Canaan strip and breakaway dunk to give the Racers all of the momentum and a lead of 11-2 after just two minutes of action.
Memphis, ranked 21st in the Associated Press poll and 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll this past Monday, threatened to take the lead a couple of times early on, bringing the game to within two points twice near the mid-point on the first half, but a 12 point MSU run from 9:56 to 7:28 helped the Racers take a 34-29 lead into halftime.
Things would all go Memphis' way after halftime, with the Tigers scoring the first eight points of the half to take their first lead of the game.
The final 20 minutes would prove to belong to Donte Poole, as the senior scored 14 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. His third three-point basket of the game and first of the second half came with the shot clock expiring from in front of the Murray State bench to tie the game at 39-39, and Canaan hit a spot up three of his own after a turnover near mid-court to go up by three with 16:41 remaining. Poole would hit three more threes in the second half, his third and final giving the Racers another double digit lead at 63-51 at the 8:37 mark.
With the Racers still holding an 11 point advantage and just under two minutes to play, the Tigers came up with nine consecutive points, forcing three MSU turnovers and bringing the game to a one possession contest with 47 seconds remaining. Aska would give the Racers a little breathing room, nailing a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to go up by five, but Memphis would cut the lead back down to three on a pair of its own successful attempts from the line.
Another Murray State turnover on the inbound play led to a quick Memphis layup and one point Racers lead with 14 seconds remaining, but Canaan would go to the line and sink both of his attempts to make the score 75-72.
Memphis had one last chance on its final possession but was unable to capitalize as Chris Crawford's three point attempt would rattle in and out with six seconds left. Zay Jackson grabbed the rebound and made the first of his two free throw attempts after being fouled to cement the Racers first win in a game against a ranked opponent this season.
MSU was 9-of-20 from the arc on the night, sinking 45 percent of its three attempts with 18 of Poole's points coming from downtown. Three other Racers starters ended with double digits on the evening as Canaan added 15, Daniel contributed 13, including 7-of-9 shooting from the free throw line, and Aska added 12 points.
Daniel led the Racers with nine rebounds and four blocks in his strongest all-around game of the season.
The loss was just the 16th for Memphis at the FexExForum in 146 games in the arena that opened in 2004.
The win gives head coach Steve Prohm the best start at Murray State in school history for a first year head coach, passing Tevester Anderson who won his first nine games in 1998.
The Racers return to action for a pair of home games at the CFSB Center later in the week, hosting Lipscomb Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., and Arkansas State on Saturday.
34 total fast break points. 38 combined points off turnovers. Four lead changes.
And one Murray State win.
The Racers kept their perfect season intact Sunday night, holding off the hometown Memphis Tigers 76-72 in an action-packed contest in front of 16,795 fans at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
MSU received contributions from everyone on the court, scoring their first two baskets on consecutive possessions with layups in transition from Jewuan Long and Isaiah Canaan to jump ahead early 4-0. Ed Daniel stretched out the lead to six, sinking a pair of free throws, and after Memphis made its first basket of the night to bring the score back to 6-2, Donte Pool hit a three pointer that was followed by a Canaan strip and breakaway dunk to give the Racers all of the momentum and a lead of 11-2 after just two minutes of action.
Memphis, ranked 21st in the Associated Press poll and 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll this past Monday, threatened to take the lead a couple of times early on, bringing the game to within two points twice near the mid-point on the first half, but a 12 point MSU run from 9:56 to 7:28 helped the Racers take a 34-29 lead into halftime.
Things would all go Memphis' way after halftime, with the Tigers scoring the first eight points of the half to take their first lead of the game.
The final 20 minutes would prove to belong to Donte Poole, as the senior scored 14 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. His third three-point basket of the game and first of the second half came with the shot clock expiring from in front of the Murray State bench to tie the game at 39-39, and Canaan hit a spot up three of his own after a turnover near mid-court to go up by three with 16:41 remaining. Poole would hit three more threes in the second half, his third and final giving the Racers another double digit lead at 63-51 at the 8:37 mark.
With the Racers still holding an 11 point advantage and just under two minutes to play, the Tigers came up with nine consecutive points, forcing three MSU turnovers and bringing the game to a one possession contest with 47 seconds remaining. Aska would give the Racers a little breathing room, nailing a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to go up by five, but Memphis would cut the lead back down to three on a pair of its own successful attempts from the line.
Another Murray State turnover on the inbound play led to a quick Memphis layup and one point Racers lead with 14 seconds remaining, but Canaan would go to the line and sink both of his attempts to make the score 75-72.
Memphis had one last chance on its final possession but was unable to capitalize as Chris Crawford's three point attempt would rattle in and out with six seconds left. Zay Jackson grabbed the rebound and made the first of his two free throw attempts after being fouled to cement the Racers first win in a game against a ranked opponent this season.
MSU was 9-of-20 from the arc on the night, sinking 45 percent of its three attempts with 18 of Poole's points coming from downtown. Three other Racers starters ended with double digits on the evening as Canaan added 15, Daniel contributed 13, including 7-of-9 shooting from the free throw line, and Aska added 12 points.
Daniel led the Racers with nine rebounds and four blocks in his strongest all-around game of the season.
The loss was just the 16th for Memphis at the FexExForum in 146 games in the arena that opened in 2004.
The win gives head coach Steve Prohm the best start at Murray State in school history for a first year head coach, passing Tevester Anderson who won his first nine games in 1998.
The Racers return to action for a pair of home games at the CFSB Center later in the week, hosting Lipscomb Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., and Arkansas State on Saturday.
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