Heartbreaker For Racers In NIT On ODU Buzzer Shot

Wednesday, March 25

Norfolk, VA

6 p.m.

Murray State

29-6

Old Dominion

27-7

Murray State

OLD DOMINION

Photo by: Tab Brockman

3/25/2015 10:21:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The amazing 2014-15 season for the Murray State Racers came to an end Wednesday in the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals on a buzzer-beater to the Old Dominion Monarchs 72-69 at the Constant Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

Down by 10 points with 3:30 remaining, the Racers (29-6) fought back and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Jeffery Moss with 3.5 seconds left. MSU's 14-4 run came after they trailed 65-55 with 3:37 left.

ODU's Trey Freeman hit a 30-foot bank shot at shot at the buzzer to win the game and send the Monarchs (27-7) to the NIT semifinals in New York City.

The Racers were in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1980 and looking for their first semifinal trip for an Ohio Valley Conference team since 1965.

Murray State also missed their third 30-win season since 2010.

In the first half, MSU fell behind by as many as nine points when it was 22-14 at the 6:53 mark. The Racers drew to one point when Jarvis Williams made a free throw and then got a put-back at the 2:05 mark.

Trailing 29-27, the Racers grabbed a 32-31 lead at the 18:48 mark of the second half when Cameron Payne hit a 3-pointer. MSU fell behind by 10 at the 9:36 mark and cut it back to four points at 7:52.

Cameron Payne led MSU with 23 points, while Jarvis Williams added 15 and Moss 12.

The Racers indeed had another great season.

They enjoyed their 28^th consecutive winning season, which is the fourth-best streak in the nation. The Racers were a whisker from having their third 30-win season since 2010 and finished with the third best win total in the 90 years of the program. MSU had the nation's second-longest win streak during the season of 25. They were the first team at MSU and just the fifth in 67 seasons of OVC hoops to run the table in going 16-0. MSU rose again into the national rankings when they were No. 24 in the USA Today poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press. MSU also had the nation's top road win total of 12 including a run of 11 straight that ended at ODU.

The Racers also say goodbye to a loved trio of seniors (Jonathan Fairell, T.J. Sapp and Jarvis Williams) that won 52 games in two seasons.