Carter’s 21 & Furious Comeback Not Enough To Get Past JSU

Thursday, January 21

Murray, Ky.

7:30 p.m.

Murray State

5-7,2-5OVC

Jacksonville State

9-5,5-3OVC

Jacksonville St.

Murray St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Carter’s 21 & Furious Comeback Not Enough To Get Past JSU

1/21/2021 3:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Chico Carter, Jr., scored a career-high 21 points and the Racers nearly pulled off an amazing comeback

The Murray State Racers produced an amazing late run and a career-high 21 points from Chico Carter, Jr., but it wasn't enough to get past the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. The 85-82 defeat was the second-straight home loss for the Racers at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

MSU (5-7) fell to 2-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference, as they host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Saturday. It's a doubleheader day with a 7:30 p.m. tip off following the women's game at 4:30 p.m.

Carter came off the bench and scored 21 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line, while KJ Williams added a double-double on 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tevin Brown scored 14 points to give the Racers three players in double-figure scoring.

Trailing 81-71 with 2:25 remaining, the Racers had the ball, but the game was slipping away.

Justice Hill hit a corner three and Carter made a steal and scored at 1:36. Brown made a steal and Carter hit a 3-pointer at 1:00. Amazingly, the Racers scored an 8-0 run in only 36 seconds to cut the JSU lead to 81-79. After JSU hit a pair of free throws, Carter scored with 16 seconds left to keep it a two-point game at 83-81. With 11 seconds remaining, the Racers forced the Gamecocks into their 14th turnover and Devin Gilmore was fouled after making a great steal. After Gilmore cut the lead to one point at 83-82, then Brown's long attempt at tying the game was no good at the buzzer.

Leading by as many as 10 points in the first half, the Racers trailed JSU 38-26 at the intermission.

The Racers did take care of the ball better, committed a season-low five turnovers, and had 17 assists on their 29 field goals. However, MSU struggled again at the free throw line in making 11-of-21 for 52 percent. MSU lost the rebound stat to JSU 38-26.

Game Notes
The Racers vs JSU series saw its 28th game played tonight, all since the Gamecocks joined the OVC in the 2003-04 school year. Tonight was JSU's first trip to MSU since 2018 and they scored their first win on MSU's home court in 12 tries. MSU has won five of the last seven games. MSU returns the game to Jacksonville State on Feb. 25 with a 24-4 series lead.

KJ Williams is closing on becoming the 48th member of the MSU 1000-Point Club. His 19 points tonight gives him 816 points in 76 games as a Racer.

Williams gets his second double-double this season and the 11th of his career.

Chico Carter's 21 points sets a new career high for him, one point better than the 20 he scored against Brescia on Nov. 16, 2019. His four made threes tied his career-high that he had earlier this season against Transylvania on Dec. 15.

Check GoRacers.com for the latest basketball schedule information
Men's Schedule
Women's Schedule

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