Racers Cut Late Deficit But Fall At No. 7 Auburn

Saturday, December 22

Auburn, Ala.

3:30 p.m.

Murray State

8-2

Auburn

10-2

Murray State

Auburn

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

12/22/2018 8:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Trailing by 14 with 3:51 remaining, the Murray State Racers made a valiant run and cut the lead to three with 24 seconds remaining before falling to the No. 7 Auburn Tigers 93-88 Saturday at Auburn Arena in Alabama.

The Racers (8-2) saw their five-game winning streak snapped as they battled a top-10 team for the first time since playing Marquette in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Seeking their first win over a top-10 team since 1971, the Racers trailed 38-35 at halftime and proceeded to start second half with a 21-14 run. The Racers had the lead until the 14:15 mark until Auburn took the lead for good at 57-56.

Ja Morant led the Racers with 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting with a night of 10-of-11 from the free throw line to go with eight rebounds and seven assists. Shaq Buchanan hit 4-of-7 from the 3-point line and finished with 21 points, while Tevin Brown had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Racers had their fourth bench scoring game of 20-plus points this season with 23. Darnell Cowart scored a MSU career-high 13 points.

Auburn (10-2) started the contest 8-0 before the Racers answered for a 10-5 lead on a Brown 3-pointer less than four minutes in. The Racers made it a 24-11 run after the 8-0 Tigers start and MSU had a 24-19 lead at the 8:55 mark on a three from Brion Whitley.

The Racers ended the game by winning the rebound stat 35-32 as each team had 14 offensive rebounds.

MSU shot 50 percent from the field (29-of-58), while Auburn shot 53 percent (34-of-64).

Game Notes
The Racers faced a top-10 team for the first time since the 2012 NCAA Tournament in Louisville when they lost to Marquette 62-53. The Racers were No. 11 and MU was No. 9. Of course, games against top-10 teams don't come along very often. MSU's last win against a top-10 was in Ohio Valley Conference play in 1971 against Western Kentucky. Coach Cal Luther's Racers defeated the No. 7 Hilltoppers 73-71.

MSU's 11 3-pointers today ties their season-high at SIU.

Auburn's 13 threes was the season high against MSU. The previous was six in the Prairie View and Evansville games.
The last time a team hit 10 or more against the Racers was last season when Belmont hit 14 on Jan. 18, 2018. Auburn hit 12 against the Racers in their meeting a year ago.

The Racers are now going home to see their families for Christmas and return to the floor to host Bethel (Dec. 29) which leads them into the opening of Ohio Valley Conference play at home against Morehead State (Jan. 3) and Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 5).