Racers Challenge Bulldogs - Wood Enters 1000-Point Club

Wednesday, December 13

Starkville, Miss.

6:30 p.m.

Murray State

3-6,1-1MVC

Mississippi State

8-2,0-0SEC

Murray St.

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Challenge Bulldogs - Wood Enters 1000-Point Club

12/13/2023 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers used a 15-0 run in the second half to take the lead with 1:16 remaining against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but ultimately fell 85-81 at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville

The Murray State Racers used a 15-0 run in the second half to take the lead with 1:16 remaining against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but ultimately fell 85-81 at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville.

Rob Perry tied his season-high with 21 points to lead the Racers who dropped to 3-6 on the season. JaCobi Wood became the 48^th Racer to join the 1000-Point Club when he scored 10 points in the first half and finished with 18 for the game. Quincy Anderson gave the Racers three in double-figure scoring with 17 points.

Trailing by 18 points (67-49) with 14:53 remaining, the Racers mounted an epic comeback when they hit 7-of-8 from the field for a 15-0 run with Patrick Chew and Anderson contributing two of the Racers' season-high 3-point baskets. With 3:30 to go, the Racers had the ball down 75-73, when Perry drilled a straightaway three for Murray State's first lead at 76-75 with 1:16 left. The Bulldogs took the lead for good on a back-door alley-oop with 28.5 to go. Perry missed a baseline runner to give the Racers back the lead with 13 seconds left and Mississippi State made free throws to seal the win.

The Racers come home Saturday for Junior Racer Day at the CFSB Center when they host the Southeastern Louisiana Lions in a 3 p.m. tip in Murray, Kentucky.

Game Notes

JaCobi Wood scored 18 points today and has 1,008 for his career to reach the magic number in 103 games at Murray State and Belmont.
Wood is the 48^th at Murray State to join the 1000-Point Club and the first since teammate Quincy Anderson last season.
Wood did it with his third MSU double-double and his first this season on 18 points and 10 assists.
Patrick Chew's first points in his MSU career came from his first 3-pointer with 13:30 in the first half.
MSU's 12 3-pointers is their season-high, one more than they hit on opening night against Midway.
MSU was No. 28 in in NCAA DI for fewest turnovers per game at 9.5 and they only had 10 today.
Wood, Moore and Perry will made their 23rd straight start together and Wood and Perry each have started all 41 games they've played at Murray State.
The Racers have played three-straight down-to-the-wire games and come up short in each.
MSU lost at 76-72 Illinois State (Dec. 3), 53-49 at Austin Peay (Dec. 9) and then tonight 85-81 to the Bulldogs.
Murray State's game with SLU at home Saturday marks the Racers' first game against the Lions who hail from the Southland Conference.
Murray State Hall of Famer, Coach Billy Kennedy, had his first great success at Southeastern before be came to Murray State in 2006.
Kennedy's road to Murray State began April 12, 2006 after six years as the head coach at Southeastern Louisiana University from 1999-05.
In his final two seasons at SLU, Kennedy guided the Lions to a 44-18 record with two regular season titles and the school's first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
Steve Prohm, an assistant to Kennedy at Centenary and then SLU, joined Kennedy at Murray State in 2006 and became head coach in 2011 when Kennedy left for Texas A&M. Prohm is in his second season in his second era as the Racers' boss.

Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).

With 2023 ending, it's time to think about purchasing tickets to 2024 State Farm Arch Madness (March 7-10) in St. Louis, Missouri. The Enterprise Center is set to host the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament which will be staged in the Gateway City for a 34th consecutive time. Through Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, Racer fans get a discounted price of $175 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased through the Murray State ticket office at the CFSB Center, by calling (270) 809-3000 or online through GoRacers.com and TicketMaster.com.