Racers late Comeback Falls Short At Bellarmine

Saturday, December 10

Louisville, Ky.

3 p.m.

Murray State

5-4,2-0MVC

Bellarmine

5-6,0-0ASUN

Murray St.

Bellarmine

Photo by: (c) {year 4} David Eaton

12/10/2022 4:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Racers’ furious run at the Knights ended in defeat in Murray State’s first game at Freedom Hall in nearly 20 years

The Murray State Racers (5-4, 2-0 MVC) nearly made a second-half comeback complete in a 69-58 loss to the Bellarmine Knights at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

Trailing by 18 points with 11:52 left in the game, the Racers pressed the Knights and ignited a 14-0 run, to get the deficit to two points (50-48) with 6:39 to play. However, MSU never got closer and saw their back-to-back win streak stopped.

Rob Perry led the way for the Racers with 24 points, while JaCobi Wood had his second double-double in the first nine games with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists.

In the first half, the Racers fell behind 12-3 before the game was five minutes old, but recovered with their own run of 13-5. When Perry hit back-to-back shots, MSU cut the Knights lead to 17-16 with 9:38 left. The Racers went to the 3:02 mark without a field goal when Perry hit his second three of the game to make it a 25-23 BU lead. The half ended with Wood hitting a pair of free throws and the Racers trailed 32-25 at the intermission.

The Racers have a busy week ahead with a Tuesday home game against Chicago State and a Popeyes Battle of the Border home game Friday against Austin Peay. The Tuesday game day is MSU's only doubleheader when the Racer women host Austin Peay at 5 p.m. with the men's game to follow. Santa will be in the building. The 7 p.m. game against APSU (Dec. 16) marks the continuation of one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball. It's also Max's 641 Towing toy drive night and Teddy Bear Toss.

Game Notes

This was MSU's first trip to Freedom Hall since 2003.
MSU and Bellarmine are 1-1 all-time since their first meeting in Murray in 2021. The home team has won both games.
JaCobi Wood was only 1-8 from the field, but still got a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He was 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
Quincy Anderson's chase to be a career 1,000-point scorer was boosted with a performance of seven points off the MSU bench.
Anderson has 82 career games played combined with Murray State and Minnesota State and has 946 points.
During the Racers' second half run, Brian Moore, Jr. made three steals. He also added four points, one rebound and assist in 15:50 of playing time.
Jamari Smith was held to five points today, the first time this season in which he didn't score 14 or more points.
With 11 offensive rebounds today, the Racers have 10 or more in five-consecutive games.
MSU gets back to Valley play (Dec. 29) when the Southern Illinois Salukis visit the CFSB Center.