Murray State University Athletics
Racer Triumvirate Reflects As Senior Day Comes
2/15/2018 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
James, Miller and Stark Reflect On MSU Career As Senior Day Draws Near
As the final week of the season is played out, Racer fans will send off the Murray State Basketball seniors with applause, cheers and tears Saturday when Tennessee Tech visits the CFSB Center for a 5 p.m. women's tip and a 7 p.m. start for the men.
The MSU women's team honors Bria Bethea (Clay, Alabama), Jasmine Borders (O'Fallon Illinois), Mary Jones (Lorain, Ohio) and Ke'Shunan James (Jackson, Tennessee), while the men's team shines the spotlight on Terrell Miller, Jr., (Jacksonville, Florida) and Jonathan Stark (Munford, Tenn.).
The schedule for Saturday calls for both teams to honor their seniors on the court with their families just before the tip times.
A great group of seniors, it's the trio of James, Miller and Stark who have set themselves apart with some amazing accomplishment in the Blue and Gold. They've combined for multiple All-Ohio Valley Conference selections with the awards for the 2017-18 season still to come at the end of the month. When the story of the 2017-18 season goes into the record books, Racer fans could see James and Stark each become the OVC Player of the Year.
Seniors Already? It Went By So Fast
Saturday, Ke'Shunan James will appear in her 114th game as a Racer and make her 112th start. Miller and Stark have been two peas in a pod since they arrived in 2016 and will be making their 50th consecutive start together and their 117th combined start. Stark has started every one of his 59 games at MSU and Miller has made 57 starts.
One thing this trio of Racers agree on, their time at MSU has gone by way too fast.
"I remember my first year in college and now I'm about to leave it," James said. "It flew by, it really did. Especially when you're having fun. To be able to do something you love every day, If I could do it all over again I'd do it the same."
"I want to thank the fans and everyone for their support," Stark said. "But the main thing this last week (at home) is to go out and do what I love to do and have fun done doing it. It's been a great year, but we're not done yet. I am looking forward to see what we can do."
"It probably won't hit me until it's over," Miller said. "We've had a good run this season, but there is more to do. We want to get to the NCAA Tournament and that has been our main goal all season. I'm glad we've got Racer Basketball back to where it's supposed to be and I am proud of that. My best memory at Murray is still to come I hope."
2000 Points - A Rare Bird
In college basketball, the number 2,000 is a measure of elite scorers.
For the just the second time in Murray State history, the Racers have simultaneous active 2,000-point scorers on the women's and men's team. Ke'Shunan James and Jonathan Stark enter the final week of home games for the 2017-18 season with 2,101 and 2,100 points respectively in their college careers. The only other time this occurred was in 1989 when Sheila Smith and Jeff Martin were playing. Smith (1985-89) finished with 2,287 points and Martin had 2,484. Both played at MSU from 1985-89, are their program's all-time leading scorers and both were inducted in the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame. Smith was inducted in 1998 and Martin in 2004.
When James and Stark were informed of their part of Racer history, they smiled.
"I had to pat myself on the back a little bit," James joked. "I didn't know all of that and since you told me about it, yes, it is a special time. Stark has been a great player and it's nice to know we've done this."
"I feel blessed to be able to score 2,000 points," Stark added. "But I couldn't have done that without my teammates. I think Ke'Shunan has a bright future and it's neat to celebrate this (accomplishment) with her."
The fact that 823 of Stark's points came at Tulane before he came to Murray State doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment. Imagine for a moment, if all of Stark's points and assists had come at MSU. He'd be in rare company. Only MSU Hall of Famer Don Mann, who played from 1985-91, has scored a 1,000 points and dished out 500 assists. Mann had 1,449 points and 531 assists. Now Stark has done it when combining his totals from Tulane and Murray State. He has 2,100 points and 555 assists.
"I love watching Stark play," James said. "He's nonchalant, but high energy at the same time. But I'm the exact opposite. I like the way he plays, because when he does something good, he's like 'I'm supposed to do that'."
Many teams have tried to contain James and her tremendous ways of scoring and mostly they've failed. Her 41 points against Austin Peay this season was the fourth-best single game in program history and a career-best for her. She fell only one assist from a triple-double. James is only the third Racer women's player to make 2,000 behind only Sheila Smith and Ashley Hayes, both MSU Hall of Famers.
"I remember when I first got here and watched her play pick-up, I was like, ah yes, she must be the one," Stark said. "It seemed like everyone was scared to guard her and I'm thinking she's the real deal."
If you're attending the games this week at the CFSB Center, tell all of the Racer seniors how much you've enjoyed watching them compete. They've given their all and leave with lots of memories we'll never forget.
As the final week of the season is played out, Racer fans will send off the Murray State Basketball seniors with applause, cheers and tears Saturday when Tennessee Tech visits the CFSB Center for a 5 p.m. women's tip and a 7 p.m. start for the men.
The MSU women's team honors Bria Bethea (Clay, Alabama), Jasmine Borders (O'Fallon Illinois), Mary Jones (Lorain, Ohio) and Ke'Shunan James (Jackson, Tennessee), while the men's team shines the spotlight on Terrell Miller, Jr., (Jacksonville, Florida) and Jonathan Stark (Munford, Tenn.).
The schedule for Saturday calls for both teams to honor their seniors on the court with their families just before the tip times.
A great group of seniors, it's the trio of James, Miller and Stark who have set themselves apart with some amazing accomplishment in the Blue and Gold. They've combined for multiple All-Ohio Valley Conference selections with the awards for the 2017-18 season still to come at the end of the month. When the story of the 2017-18 season goes into the record books, Racer fans could see James and Stark each become the OVC Player of the Year.
Seniors Already? It Went By So Fast
Saturday, Ke'Shunan James will appear in her 114th game as a Racer and make her 112th start. Miller and Stark have been two peas in a pod since they arrived in 2016 and will be making their 50th consecutive start together and their 117th combined start. Stark has started every one of his 59 games at MSU and Miller has made 57 starts.
One thing this trio of Racers agree on, their time at MSU has gone by way too fast.
"I remember my first year in college and now I'm about to leave it," James said. "It flew by, it really did. Especially when you're having fun. To be able to do something you love every day, If I could do it all over again I'd do it the same."
"I want to thank the fans and everyone for their support," Stark said. "But the main thing this last week (at home) is to go out and do what I love to do and have fun done doing it. It's been a great year, but we're not done yet. I am looking forward to see what we can do."
"It probably won't hit me until it's over," Miller said. "We've had a good run this season, but there is more to do. We want to get to the NCAA Tournament and that has been our main goal all season. I'm glad we've got Racer Basketball back to where it's supposed to be and I am proud of that. My best memory at Murray is still to come I hope."
2000 Points - A Rare Bird
In college basketball, the number 2,000 is a measure of elite scorers.
For the just the second time in Murray State history, the Racers have simultaneous active 2,000-point scorers on the women's and men's team. Ke'Shunan James and Jonathan Stark enter the final week of home games for the 2017-18 season with 2,101 and 2,100 points respectively in their college careers. The only other time this occurred was in 1989 when Sheila Smith and Jeff Martin were playing. Smith (1985-89) finished with 2,287 points and Martin had 2,484. Both played at MSU from 1985-89, are their program's all-time leading scorers and both were inducted in the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame. Smith was inducted in 1998 and Martin in 2004.
When James and Stark were informed of their part of Racer history, they smiled.
"I had to pat myself on the back a little bit," James joked. "I didn't know all of that and since you told me about it, yes, it is a special time. Stark has been a great player and it's nice to know we've done this."
"I feel blessed to be able to score 2,000 points," Stark added. "But I couldn't have done that without my teammates. I think Ke'Shunan has a bright future and it's neat to celebrate this (accomplishment) with her."
The fact that 823 of Stark's points came at Tulane before he came to Murray State doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment. Imagine for a moment, if all of Stark's points and assists had come at MSU. He'd be in rare company. Only MSU Hall of Famer Don Mann, who played from 1985-91, has scored a 1,000 points and dished out 500 assists. Mann had 1,449 points and 531 assists. Now Stark has done it when combining his totals from Tulane and Murray State. He has 2,100 points and 555 assists.
"I love watching Stark play," James said. "He's nonchalant, but high energy at the same time. But I'm the exact opposite. I like the way he plays, because when he does something good, he's like 'I'm supposed to do that'."
Many teams have tried to contain James and her tremendous ways of scoring and mostly they've failed. Her 41 points against Austin Peay this season was the fourth-best single game in program history and a career-best for her. She fell only one assist from a triple-double. James is only the third Racer women's player to make 2,000 behind only Sheila Smith and Ashley Hayes, both MSU Hall of Famers.
"I remember when I first got here and watched her play pick-up, I was like, ah yes, she must be the one," Stark said. "It seemed like everyone was scared to guard her and I'm thinking she's the real deal."
If you're attending the games this week at the CFSB Center, tell all of the Racer seniors how much you've enjoyed watching them compete. They've given their all and leave with lots of memories we'll never forget.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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