Racers Hit Century Mark - Morant Sets OVC Assist Record & Reaches 1,000 Points

Saturday, February 16

Richmond, Ky.

6 p.m.

Murray State

21-4 (12-2OVC)

102

Eastern Kentucky

11-16 (4-10OVC)

Murray State

102

Eastern Kentucky

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Hit Century Mark - Morant Sets OVC Assist Record & Reaches 1,000 Points

2/16/2019 9:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers rolled to their fifth-straight win Saturday in a 102-70 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Ky.

The Racers (21-4) improved to 12-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference and remained tied with Belmont for first place with four games left in the 2018-19 season.

Murray State's Ja Morant made it a historic night when he became the 46^th member of the MSU 1000-Point Club and surpassed the 32-year single-season assist record in the OVC. Morant surpassed Duane Washington of Middle Tennessee who had 255 assists in the 1986-87 season. The Racers scored their second 100-point game (fourth this season) with a balanced attack that featured five players in double-figure scoring including Morant, with 25 and his 10^th consecutive 20-point game. He was only two rebounds from a triple-double as he finished with 14 assists for his 16^th double-double in 25 games this season.

MSU got 16 points from Shaq Buchanan and 14 each from Darnell Cowart and Tevin Brown. Devin Gilmore added 12 points.

This one saw the Racers jump on the Colonels 23-9 in the first 7:07 of the game and hold the lead at 46-35 at the halftime intermission.

In the second half, EKU made a run and cut the Racer lead to 63-55 with 11:11 remaining.

The Racers hit the gas pedal and zoomed past EKU with a 12-0 run over the next 2:30 for a 75-55 lead with 8:39 to play. The Racers defense created offense and the Racers had a run of making nine shots in a row and scoring 22 fast-break points in the game. MSU's lead eventually grew to 32 in the closing minute.

MSU shot 60 percent (37-of-61), their top shooting game this season against an NCAA D-I team.

Game Notes
Morant joins other recent MSU players to reach 1,000 points including: Jonathan Stark and Terrell Miller (2018), Cameron Payne, Jarvins Williams and Jeffery Moss (2015) and Isaiah Canaan (2012). Morant now has 1,012 points in 57 games.

Morant reached 1,000 points in his 57^th game and is tied with MSU hall of famer Howie Crittenden (1952-56) for 11^th fastest in MSU history. The fastest to 1,000 all did it in 48 games including: Jonathan Stark (2018), De'Teri Mayes (1998), Mike Coleman (1974) and Claude Virden (1969).

Morant is sixth on the MSU list for two-year scorers. The leader is Johnathan Stark (2016-18) at 1,408 points. Stark is followed by De'Teri Mayes (1996-98) 1,340, Cameron Payne (2013-15) 1,279, Jarvis Williams (2013-15) 1,055 and Terrell Miller (2016-18) 1,012.

Morant now has 256 assists as he set the OVC single-season record of 255 by Duane Washington of Middle Tennessee (1986-87). Morant has already passed the MSU single-season record of 212 by Chad Towsend in 1996-97.

Leading 46-35 at halftime and winning makes the Racers 17-0 this season when leading at the intermission.

The Racers are 14-1 when scoring 80 or more points this season. MSU's only loss was (Dec. 22) at Auburn 93-88.

The Racers vs EKU series is the third longest running series Murray State basketball has, behind only Tennessee Tech (179 games) and Morehead State (164). Today's game was the 163^rd between the two. MSU leads the series now 102-61 and are 57-21 at EKU. Today was MSU's first game at EKU since 2016. The Racers have won six straight games at McBrayer Arena since their last loss there in 2008.

With only three home games remaining in the regular season, the Racers return to the CFSB Center next week for games with UT Martin (Feb. 21) and Southeast Missouri State (Feb. 23). Both days are women's/men's doubleheaders at The Bank with the ladies tipping at 5 p.m. and the men's game schedule to tip at 7 p.m.