Racers Seek NCAA Success - Meet USF Thursday In Indy - Murray State University Athletics

The Murray State Racers (30-2) meet the San Francisco Dons (24-9) in the 2022 NCAA Tournament Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the first round in an 8:40 p.m. CT tip in Indianapolis, Ind. The game marks the continuation of a great season for the Racers that included running the table in the Ohio Valley Conference at 18-0 and taking the OVC Tournament with a pair of wins last weekend in Evansville.

Today's Opponent - San Francisco
Heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998, USF is a No. 10 seed and take on the Racers a No. 7 seed. USF had first team All-West Coast Conference picks Jamaree Bouyea and Yauhen Massalski and Khalil Shabazz on the second team. The last time USF was in the Big Dance, they were 19-10 overall (7-7 in WCC play) under head coach Phil Mathews to earn a 14 seed. This season, USF's No. 10 seed is the highest seed for the Dons since entering the tournament as a nine seed in 1981-82.

Murray State - NCAA Tournament History
Overall: 4-17 (.190) First Round: 4-13 (.644)
Second Round: 0-4 (.000) Appearances: 18 in 2022
Appearances McMahon Era: 3 in 2022
Sweet 16 Appearances: 0
Highest Seed: No. 6 in 2012
Overtime: 1 (1991 vs Michigan State, Lost 75-71 in Knoxville)
Games Decided 5 Points or Less: 2-5
Team Records
First NCAA Tournament Game: 1964, Lost vs Loyola-Chicago 101-91, Evanston, Ill.
Last NCAA Tournament Game: 2019, Lost vs Florida State 90-62, Hartford, Conn.
Largest MSU NCAA Win: (-19) 2019, Won vs Marquette 83-64, Hartford, Conn.
Largest MSU NCAA Loss: (-28) 2019, Lost vs Florida State 90-62, Hartford, Conn.
Single Game Player Records
MSU NCAA Team Points: (91) 1964, Loyola-Chicago, Evanston, Ill.
Opponent NCAA Team Points: (101) 1964, Loyola-Chicago, Evanston, Ill.
MSU NCAA Player Points: (28) 2019, Ja Morant vs Marquette
Opponent NCAA Player Points: (31) 2002, Jarvis Hayes of Georgia
MSU NCAA Player Rebounds: (19) 1964, Jim Jennings vs Loyola
Opponent NCAA Player Rebounds: (17) 2012, Pierce Hornung of Colorado State
MSU NCAA Player Assists: (16) 2019, Ja Morant vs Marquette vs Marquette
Opponent NCAA Player Assists: (10) 2002, Rashad Wright of Georgia
MSU NCAA Player Made 3-PT: (6) 1992, Frank Allen vs Arkansas
Opponent NCAA Player Made 3-PT: (5) 1997, Jeff Capel of Duke

MSU's NCAA Tournament History
The game marks the 18th appearance all-time for the Racers in the NCAA Tournament and the third in the last five years under Coach Matt McMahon. MSU is seeking their fifth win in the NCAA Tournament after they defeated Marquette in 2019. The Racers are 4-17 all-time in the NCAAs and have never been to the Sweet 16.
After playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 1964, Murray State scored its first NCAA win in 1988 by defeating North Carolina State. It was 22 years later when they upset Vanderbilt in 2010. In 2012 the Racers were the No. 6 seed and defeated Colorado State. In 2019, Ja Morant, a future NBA Rookie of the Year, led the Racers past Marquette with a triple double.

Racers vs Dons History
The Racers and Dons have met only one time, which was in 2011 at the Great Alaska Shootout. The 70-67 win for Murray State was part of their 23-0 start to the 2011-12 season as the final undefeated team in the nation.

A Season To Remember
When the Racers were picked third in the OVC Preseason Poll, they proved everyone wrong by running the table to win their 28th conference title as the first team to do it undefeated in an 18-game schedule. MSU is just the third team in school history to win 30 games and the second team in 41 seasons to spend consecutive weeks ranked in the top-25. The Racers have done it with a team that is among the most efficient in the nation on offense and defense. Leading the way is a trio of All-OVC players including KJ Williams who won the OVC's Player of the Year award. Tevin Brown became the OVC's career 3-point king and Justice Hill is one of the most improved players in NCAA Division I. Hill was the OVC Tournament MVP last week as the Racers defeated Southeast Missouri and Morehead State to make it to the Big Dance.

Racer Basketball Legacy Fund
The new fundraising initiative invites Racer supporters to have a lasting impact on the Murray State men's and women's basketball programs. Those interested in learning more about how you can support the Racer Basketball Legacy Fund initiative may contact Director of Development-Athletics, Taylor Mudd at (270) 809-3517 or tmudd3@murraystate.edu for more information.

About Murray State Athletics
Located in Murray, Kentucky, the athletics department of Murray State University is a NCAA Division I member and plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Racers have 15 programs including men's teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, football and golf and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball, as well as a mixed gender rifle team. Currently a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, the Racers will join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2022.

Racers Seek NCAA Success - Meet USF Thursday In Indy

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Players Mentioned

Tevin Brown

Justice Hill

KJ Williams

Murray State University Athletics