Racers' 5-Game Win Streak Snapped At SIUE

Saturday, January 18

Edwardsville, Ill.

1 p.m.

Murray State

10-8, 5-1OVC

SIU Edwardsville

6-13, 3-3OVC

Murray State

SIUE

Photo by: Kyser Lough/Ledger & Times

1/18/2014 4:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

I Box Score (PDF)

The Murray State Racers saw their five-game win streak come to a halt Saturday in a 67-60 loss to the SIU Edwardsville Cougars at the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Ill.

The Racers (10-8) fell to 5-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference with their first loss in league play.

The first part of the game featured 11 lead changes with the Racers up 14-13 when T.J. Sapp got a steal and fed Jarvis Williams for an easy basket at the 13:26 mark.

SIUE had a 5-0 run to push ahead 23-18 at 9:02, but the Racers put together an 8-3 run and tied it at 26-26 when Sapp hit a pair from the free throw line at 6:14.

The Racers made six free throws to get their largest lead of the half 32-28 at 2:58. MSU got a Dexter Fields 3-pointer and forced a turnover with nine seconds left. Cameron Payne drove the length of the floor and scored at the buzzer for MSU to end the half in front 37-32.

MSU scored three of the first four baskets in the second half and had a 42-36 lead when Jeffery Moss scored with 17:31 remaining.

The Cougars came back and tied it at 51-51, but the Racers claimed the lead again with 8:51 left on another Moss basket. Seconds later, Christian Salecich hit a 3-pointer for the lead that SIUE wouldn't give up. Moss scored with 2:07 left to make it a two point game, but MSU couldn't get any closer.

Moss led the Racers with 17 points on 8-of-13 from the field, while Williams hauled in 12 rebounds. Sapp and Fields gave MSU three players in double-figure scoring with 11 and 10 points respectively.

The Racers had a poor shooting day of 39 percent on 22-of-56, while SIUE shot 50 percent on 27-0f-54 shots.

The loss for MSU was their first of 2014 and their first since dropping a 72-51 game at Dayton (Dec. 29).

The Racers get back home Thursday to host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in a 7 p.m. tip at the CFSB Center. The game has been designated as a White Out and all fans are asked to wear white. It's the first half of a home week for MSU as they host Jacksonville State Saturday in a women's/men's doubleheader with tip times at 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. All MSU games are heard over the air on WFGE 103.7 FM and free online at Froggy103.com and GoRacers.com. Online video is free at OVCDigital.com.