Dexter Fields Honored For Leadership & Performance

Fields Gallery I Banquet Gallery

Murray State men's basketball put a wrap on the 2013-14 season Monday with their annual awards banquet in the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

With time to reflect since MSU won the championship of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament earlier this month, this evening was filled with laughter and reflection. The spotlight was solely on the student-athletes, especially lone senior Dexter Fields, for giving the fans one of the best seasons in the 89-year history of the program.

Fields was honored after he was fantastic in his leadership as the only senior on the team. He was practically a coach on the floor, but his play shouldn't be overlooked either. Fields made 76 made 3-point baskets to rank seventh for a single-season at MSU. His .420 3-point percentage is 17th. Fields finished with 531 points in two seasons at MSU. Add in the 319 points he had UAB and it means 850 points in his collegiate career.

The Popeye Jones Mr. MSU Award (Sponsored By CFSB) was given to Cameron Payne. The Mr. MSU Award goes to the student-athlete who displayed excellence in all areas, on and off the court. Payne led the Racers in scoring this season, was named All-Ohio Valley Conference and OVC Freshman of the Year.

Fields was honored with the Jeff Martin Class & Character Award (Sponsored by The Murray Bank). Named after MSU's all-time scorer, Fields earned the honor from great play and leadership this season.

The Garrett Beshear Defensive Award (Sponsored By Heritage Bank) is named after one of the greatest defenders in MSU history. Jonathan Fairell was the honoree after he played a big part in the Racers' defensive effort especially in their run to the CIT title.

T.J. Sapp was given the Racer Hustle Award (Sponsored by Regions Bank) for his tremendous energy he displayed this season.

The evening was also highlighted by the unveiling of the Racers' CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship banner. At the start of the banquet program, the banner was hung from the rafters at the CFSB Center. The banner hangs next to the retired No. 5 of Marcus Brown in the northeast corner of the arena.

Season Accomplishments & Notes
The Racers have a lot to be proud of this season as they went 23-11 overall and 13-3 in OVC play and were just an inch from a share of the regular-season title. MSU made a five-game run after the OVC Tournament and won the CIT Championship. Along the way, MSU secured their 27 consecutive winning season, which ranks behind only Syracuse, Kansas and Arizona. MSU was OVC West Division champions and set a school record with their fifth straight 20-win season.

Head Coach Steve Prohm's 75 wins is an MSU record for most wins in the first three seasons. He matches Ron Greene and Steve Newton with three 20-win seasons. MSU is 75-23 (.765) and 38-10 (.791) in the OVC in the Prohm era.

The Racers won the CIT becoming the first MSU team to end the season with a national championship. MSU won away from home at Missouri State to start the CIT. Then they came home and won four straight with wins over Omaha, Towson, Pacific and Yale.

MSU played a school-record with 18 home games and the latest game in the OVC (April 3).

MSU broke the program record for made 3-pointers with 252. The former record of 243 was set last season (2012-13), but this team did it in 30 fewer attempts.

MSU tied the team record with 14 blocked shots against Yale. They tied the team from 2006 that had 14 against Morehead State.

The Racers are the 10th team in school history since 1948 (the modern era from the start of the OVC) to have three players with 400 points. Cameron Payne (572), Jarvis Williams (505) and Jeffery Moss (448).

Cameron Payne is the second MSU freshman to score 500 points in a single season joining Lamont Sleets (1979-80). His 572 points is 24th at MSU. His 185 assists are second. His 57 steals ranks 12th.

Jarvis Williams' 60 blocked shots ranks 7th at MSU. His 338 rebounds are 15th. Williams was first in NCAA D-I with .648 field goal percentage.

Jeffery Moss made 22 consecutive free throws for the best MSU streak of the season. He tied the MSU record for a single game free throw percentage against UTM hitting 14-of-14.

Season Honors
Cameron Payne
OVC Freshman of the Year
All-OVC First Team
All-NABC District-19
OVC All-Tournament Team
CollegeInsider.com Tournament MVP
SBNation.com Mid-Major Freshman of the Year
College Madness Freshman of the Year
Kyle Macy Freshman All-America

Jarvis Williams
All-OVC Second Team
All-OVC Newcomer Team
All-NABC District-19
CollegeInsider.com All-Tournament Team

Players Mentioned

Jonathan Fairell

Dexter Fields

Jeff Martin Jr.

Jeffery Moss

Cameron Payne

T.J. Sapp

Jarvis Williams

Murray State University Athletics