Defense & Big 3's Lead Racers Past Evansville

Wednesday, December 4

CFSB Center

7 p.m.

Murray State

3-5

Evansville

5-3

Evansville

Murray St.

Photo by: Tab Brockman

12/4/2013 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

I Box Score (PDF) I Gallery I OVC Network Replay

The Murray State Racers came away with their fifth straight win over the Evansville Purple Aces 65-63 at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

Jeffery Moss scored 20 points and hit a key 3-pointer to give the Racers a 64-61 lead with 49 seconds remaining. The Racers made 1-of-4 from the free throw line and had to defend an Evansville 3-point try for the win with three seconds left, but held on to improve to 3-5.

After Moss' 20 points, Cameron Payne added 14 points and five assists, while Dexter Fields added 11 points. Jarvis Williams grabbed 16 rebounds and chipped in six points.

Leading 30-26 at the half, the Racers started with a 7-0 run. After Fields hit his third three of the game, MSU got a block from Payne which led to a fast break slam from Williams and a steal from Moss netted a layup for a 37-32 MSU lead with 16:38 remaining.

Tyler Rambo cut down the lane and hit a tough shot to tie it at 57-57 with 3:42 left. MSU came up with back-to-back defensive stands and took a 61-59 lead when Payne scored with 1:24 left to set the stage for the exciting finish.

Moss' big three made him 5-of-9 for the game from long range, both career highs.

The Racers played the Purple Aces even on the boards 32-32, but limited UE to nine offensive rebounds.

MSU shot 45 percent for the game on 24-of-51 shots, while UE finished at 47 percent on 24-of-51. The Racers had a big advantage from the 3-point line in hitting 10-of-22 for 45 percent, while holding UE to 2-of-7 for 28 percent.

In the first half, MSU jumped out to a quick 16-5 lead after a 3-point basket from Moss and a shot in the lane from Rambo.

The Racers endured a scoreless streak that lasted 4:21 and it led to a 7-0 run from the Aces to cut the MSU lead to 16-14 with 9:02 left. Fields broke the run with a 3-pointer and MSU lead 19-14 with 8:47 left.

MSU ended the half on a run-out 3-pointer from Fields to lead 30-26.

Game Notes
Tonight's win for the Racers marks their third in four games at the CFSB Center. Prior, MSU had wins over Brescia (Nov. 12) and Bethel (Nov. 19). They lost their last time out (Nov. 26) against Middle Tennessee. MSU is now 76-11 (.873) all-time against non-OVC teams in their 16^th season of basketball in the CFSB Center. MSU is 185-33 (.848) Overall.

The Racers have won five straight in their series with UE. Before tonight, MSU scored wins over the Purple Aces in 2012, 2011, 2002 and 1992. MSU's last loss to UE was in 1991 at home 87-80. MSU leads the all-time series 24-10.

MSU is now 52-52 all-time against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Racers met MVC squad Southern Illinois for the 31^st time Dec. 17 at home.

Jarvis Williams had 16 rebounds marking the high for the Racers this season. It's the best rebounding game for MSU since Ed Daniel grabbed 17 against Southeast Missouri last January.

After committing 10 turnovers in the first half, MSU only had three in the second half.

MSU ended up with 14 assists (a season-high against a D-I team) on their 23 field goals.

Cameron Payne has led MSU in assists in every one of the eight games this season. He had five tonight.

The Racers meet the Lipscomb Bisons at home Saturday in a 3 p.m. tip.