Late Lead Slips Away in Racer Loss At Missouri State

Tuesday, December 3

Springfield, Mo.

7 p.m.

Murray State

4-4

Missouri State

4-5

Murray State

Missouri State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

12/3/2019 6:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers lost a late lead in a battle with the Missouri State Bears and absorbed a 71-69 defeat Tuesday at the JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.

The Racers (4-4) return home Saturday to host Middle Tennessee in the second game of a doubleheader day at the CFSB Center at 7 p.m. The MSU women's team hosts Indiana State at 5 p.m.

Tevin Brown led three Racers with 19 points, while Jaiveon Eaves added 14 and Anthony Smith had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Demond Robinson came off the bench to score six points on 2-of-2 shooting from the field and free throw line. He also added a pair of blocked shots.

Trailing 25-22 at the halftime intermission, the Racers took their first lead of the second half 42-40 on a fast break layup by Eaves with 11:00 remaining. When Anthony Smith dunked after the Racers made a defensive stop, the lead went to four with 9:45 to play. The Racers' sleepy shooting had awakened with a 14-2 run over four minutes.

The Bears answered with their own run to put the Racers behind 57-52 with 5:09 left.

The Racers dug in and got a 3-pointer from DaQuan Smith, a blocked shot by Robinson and an Eaves layup to tie the game 61-61 with 1:50 left. When Brown fed Robinson for a dunk with 49 seconds left, it looked like the Racers were going to escape Springfield with their first road win of the season. The defining moment came when Missouri State's Keandre Cook hit a highly contested 3-pointer at the top of the key to give the Bears the lead for good with 27 seconds left.

The Racers gave themselves a chance to win by nearly doubling their field goal output in the second half and getting to the free throw line 23 times where they swished 16 of them. Putting together their best defensive rebounding game of the season, the Racers only allowed six offensive rebounds to Missouri State and hauled in 11 of their own.

Game Notes
The Racers' series with Missouri State is now tied 3-3.

MSU his 1-2 against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference with a win over Southern Illinois and losses to Drake and Missouri State. MSU's fourth game this season against a MVC foe is at Evansville (Dec. 21). Since 2015, the Racers are 7-7 against MVC teams.

Evidence of their amazing run of championship basketball in the last two seasons, the loss at Missouri State marks the Racers' first instance of losing back-to-back games in 77 games. MSU's last back-to-back losses came at Southeast Missouri (Feb. 23, 2017). Since that time, the Racers are 58-15.

The Racers' 14-2 run to grab the lead in the second half is their best run of the season in eight games.

Anthony Smith has two career double-doubles in 45 games as a Racer and both have come this season. Tonight had had 12pts/10reb. His other came against Brescia (Nov. 16) with 13pts/14reb.

With their challenged shooting seemingly cured with a 60 percent game vs Weber State (Nov. 26) on 28-of-46, the Racers have got to think their shooting over the last two games is going to get better. Now in back-to-back losses to Drake (Nov. 27) and Missouri State (Dec. 3), the Racers are a combined 39-of-112 for 35 percent from the field and 9-of-36 for 25 percent.

Coach Matt McMahon made a pregame statement on the status of freshman guard, Chico Carter, Jr. "Chico will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a fractured bone in his hand at the Gulf Coast Showcase last week," McMahon said. "I am disappointed for Chico as his freshman season is off to a great start. I look forward to Chico making a speedy recovery and I'm extremely excited about his bright future at Murray State."