Poor Shooting Leads Racers to Loss vs Nebraska at Diamond Head Classic

Sunday, December 22

Honolulu, Hawaii

8 p.m.

Murray State

6-5,1-1MVC

Nebraska

8-2,1-1Big Ten

Nebraska

Murray St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Poor Shooting Leads Racers to Loss vs Nebraska at Diamond Head Classic

12/23/2024 1:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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The Murray State Racers began the game hitting only 1-of-16 shots on their way to a loss in Honolulu

The Murray State Racers dropped a 66-49 game Sunday to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their first meeting since 2000, in the opening round of the 15^th annual Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.

The Racers (6-5) take on Charlotte Monday night at 11:30 p.m. Central Time, after the 49ers were defeated by host Hawaii

Suffering a poor first half on offense, the Racers began the game by hitting only 1-of-16 from the field and ended the half down 34-14 to the Cornhuskers. In the first 20 minutes of play, the Racers shot 14 percent (4-of-28) overall, 3-of-15 from the 3-point line for 20 percent and 3-of-9 from the free throw line for 33 percent.

Kylen Milton led the Racers with 19 points, matching his MSU-best scoring game on 7-of-15 from the field.

The Racers did outscore Nebraska 35-32 in the second half, but never got any closer than 12 points with 3:33 remaining.

Game Notes

The Racers and Cornhuskers faced off the third time after Murray State wins in 1990 and 2000.
Today's game marked just the fifth game for the Racers against a team from the Big-10 Conference since they faced Illinois in the 2004 NCAA Tournament in Columbus.
Other recent games include: 1999 (vs Ohio State/NCAA Tournament – Lost 72-58), 2000 (at Purdue – Lost 95-67), 2000 (at Nebraska -Won 79-71) and 2004 (vs Illinois/NCAA Tournament – Lost 72-53).
AJ Ferguson's free throw streak of making 14 in a row ended with a miss in the first half, his run is the best for the Racers since JaCobi Wood made 21 straight in the 2023-24 season.
Terence Harcum hit one 3-pointer in eight tries tonight, but has hit a three in all 11 games for the Racers this season.
The Racers lost the rebound stat 40-26 to NU and are 0-5 this season when getting out-rebounded.
Monday's game against Charlotte marks the second all-time meeting between the two.
The first meeting was also in Hawaii when they met at the Rainbow Classic, a game the 49ers beat the Racers 75-68 in 1998 under Coach Tevester Anderson.
In that game, also played on the UH campus, the Racers suffered their first loss in 10 games.
The Racers placed four players in double-figure scoring with MSU Hall of Famer, Isaac Spencer, scoring 18 points, while Aubrey Reese added 15 and MSU for 12 each from Duane Virgil and Ray Cunningham.
Tonight, the 49ers drew the home standing UH Rainbow Warriors and suffered a 78-61 loss to fall to 6-5 on the season.
UH led 44-41 at the half and ran their home record this season to 7-1.