Records Fall In Racers Romp Over Spalding

Friday, November 16

CFSB Center

7 p.m.

Murray State

106

Spalding

Murray St.

106

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

11/16/2018 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers ran away with a 106-36 victory Friday over the Spalding Golden Eagles at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.

In a game that got out of hand quickly, the Racers saw 12 players score and five make double-doubles including Ja Morant with 18 points in only 16 minutes of court time. Anthony Smith scored 14 points and Devin Gilmore set his career high with a double-double off the bench with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Freshmen KJ Williams and Jalen Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points each.

The Racers tied a school record against the overmatched Golden Eagles with a 62-13 lead in the first half as they hit 23-of-37 shots for 67 percent, while holding Spalding to 14 percent on 3-of-22. The Racers finished the game with a 44-23 second half.

The win for the Racers (2-0) takes them into Thanksgiving week and their next game against Missouri State (Nov. 24) at home.

Game Notes
The team records that fell are many, including the largest margin of victory in the 93 seasons of Murray State's intercollegiate basketball program. The Racers' 70-point margin of victory topped the 68-point win they had against Camp Campbell, Nov. 26, 1946, in an 86-18 win. The game marked the third-lowest opponent score in the 21 seasons of the CFSB Center following 33 points by Anderson in 2006 and 34 points by Samford in 2008. The Racers also tied the school mark with 62 points in the first half. The Racers scored 62 points in a first half twice before: In 1970 against Illinois College and in 1995 against Berry College.

The Racers had 32 assists on their 43 field goals in the game and got close, but fell two shy of the team record of 34 against Campbellsville in 1994.

Coach Matt McMahon is now 61-37 (.622) in his fourth season at the helm of the Racer program. His teams have been very good at the CFSB Center having won their last 11 since a loss last December to Auburn. In the last four seasons at the CFSB Center, McMahon's teams are 21-5 (.807) on their home court.

The 21^st season of basketball for the Racers at the CFSB Center is underway and after tonight's win, the Racers are 246-44 (.848) all-time in the arena and 100-17 (.854) against non-conference opponents.

Ja Morant tied his career high with five steals. He also recorded five against Southeast Missouri (Jan. 4, 2018).

Anthony Smith tied his career high with 14 points, the same as he scored against Southern Illinois (Nov. 25, 2017).