MTSU Outlasts Racers In Murphy Center

Tuesday, November 15

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:30 p.m.

Murray State

1-1

Middle Tennessee

2-0

Murray St.

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

11/15/2016 9:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers dropped an 87-81 defeat in their first road contest of the season Tuesday against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Racers fell to 1-1 and now prepare for a three-game set at the Bill Frack Tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio starting Saturday against Green Bay.

Damarcus Croaker and Jonathan Stark led the way for the Racers each with 23 points. Bryce Jones added 17 and Terrell Miller 12 points.

Trailing 41-39 at half, the Racers had the lead with 16:54 left on a jones jumper to make it 49-47 Racers. The Racers made a run at the 9:45 mark when Croaker hit a three to make it a three-point game at 62-59. Down by 11 with 6:32 left, the Racers charged ahead and cut the lead to four with 3:32 left, but never got any closer.

In the first half, MSU jumped out to a 9-6 lead when Stark hit a 3-point shot and Croaker followed with a corner three for a 14-8 lead just 4:30 into the game. When Croaker hit another three at the 14:00 mark, the Racers had a 19-10 lead. Stark hit another to give the Racers a 29-22 lead with 8:07 in the half. MTSU (2-0) made a push and tied the game on back-to-back threes with 6:35 left.

The Racers were 27-of-63 from the field for 43 percent, while MTSU hit 32-of-65 for 49 percent.

Stark led the Racers with eight assists, while Miller led the team with nine rebounds.

Game Notes
Today was the 138^th meeting between MSU and MTSU as the two were rivals in the Ohio Valley Conference from 1952-2000. The Racers had won the last two in the series including their last visit to the Murphy Center in 2014. With the loss, MSU leads the all-time series 103-35.

The Racers had a pair of players with 20 points in the game with Stark and Croaker getting 23 each. The last time MSU had two players with 20 points was the final game of the season last March against Morehead State in the OVC Tournament. Bryce Jones scored 24 that day and Jeffery Moss scored 21.

Now the Racers prepare for three games in three days (Nov. 19-21) in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Racers have never played Green Bay and meet the Phoenix on the first day of the Bill Frack Tournament hosted by Bowling Green State on Saturday. MSU's second game on Sunday is against Kansas City, a team they haven't met since 1983. The final game on Monday is against host BGSU and the Racers will be meeting the Falcons for the first time since 1985. Check GoRacers.com for live stats and live streaming audio. Only the BGSU game will have live streaming video as the game will be carried on ESPN3.com.