Racers Defeat TSU - Roll To 8-0 OVC Start - Murray State University Athletics

Saturday, January 25

CFSB Center

7 p.m.

Murray State

15-5,8-0OVC

Tennessee State

12-9,4-4OVC

Tennessee St.

Murray St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Defeat TSU - Roll To 8-0 OVC Start

1/25/2020 10:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers pushed their home winning streak to 16 Saturday with a 76-64 victory over the Tennessee State Tigers at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.

The Racers (15-5) pushed their current season win streak to nine in a row as they stayed in a first place in the Ohio Valley Conference with Austin Peay as each team is 8-0. The Racers have also won 17-straight OVC regular season games.

Tevin Brown led all scorers with 22 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line and Devin Gilmore came off the bench to get a double-double on 13 points and 10 rebounds. KJ Williams added 12 points and Demond Robinson scored 10 points.

Trailing by as many as eight points with 9:09 left in the first half, the Racers had edged in front of the Tigers by the intermission at 32-29.

In the second half with 18:31 remaining, DaQuan Smith scored a 4-point play when he was fouled taking a 3-pointer. Smith made the three and the free throw for a 36-29 Racer lead. Moments later, a loose ball scramble ensued at the 15:44 mark, Williams scooped the ball at the mid-court line and fed Eaves for a corner three and a 43-35 lead, MSU's Devin Gilmore

largest of the game. A fast break dunk for Brown at the 12:15 mark, gave the Racers a 19-8 run to start the second half and a 51-37 lead. TSU never got any closer than seven points the rest of the way.

The Racers were 8-of-23 from the 3-point line, but finished hot by hitting 7-of-15 after a 1-of-8 start. MSU also won the rebound battle 29-27 and limited the opponent to less than 10 second-chance points for the 15th time this season. The Racers piled up lots of spots where they shared the ball and had 19 assists on their 25 made field goals. The Racers had another good game from the free throw line going 18-of-22 for 82 percent.

Murray State continues their four-game home stand next week when the Eastern Illinois Panthers visit the CFSB Center (Jan.30) and the SIUE Cougars (Feb. 1).

Game Notes

Devin Gilmore recorded his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in 22 minutes.
Demond Robinson had his fifth game of 10-plus points.
Tevin Brown had his 11^th career game of 20-plus scoring.
With the win, the Racers improved to 10-0 at home this season and have won their last 16 at home.
Gonzaga has the nation's longest win streak that they pushed to 35 in a row with a home win today over Pacific.
In their 22^nd season at The Bank, the Racers are now 270-45 (.782) and 158-28 (.849) against OVC opponents.
In Coach Matt McMahon's last three seasons, the Racers are 39-3 (.928) at the friendly confines of the CFSB Center. Those three losses were to Middle Tennessee (11-13-17), Auburn (12-19-17) and Belmont (1-24-19)
The Racers' regular season win streak in OVC games is now 17 since a loss to Belmont in January of 2019.
Add in MSU's two OVC Tournament wins last March in Evansville and they've won 19 in a row over OVC teams.
MSU's current season win streak is nine since a loss at Evansville (Dec. 21).
The Racers now lead the all-time series with Tennessee State 55-17 and are 31-6 at home.
Coach McMahon is 102-47 (.684) in his fifth season at Murray State and 58-18 (.763) in OVC games.
The Racers have a return game to play TSU in Nashville at the Gentry Center (Feb. 8).