Staff Report 

For the second time in four years Murray State has seen the OVC Male Athlete of the Year award. Former point guard for the Racers, Cameron Payne had Head Coach Steve Prohm accept the award in his behalf on May 29.

Payne helped the team last season go undefeated for the second longest win streak at 25 wins that stretched back to December. This season’s team was the first at Murray State and the fifth in the OVC to go undefeated in their season. Payne also helped the Racers win their first round at the National Invitation Tournament before falling in the quarterfinals to Old Dominion.

Personally, Payne was the second fastest player in the Murray State’s history to reach 1,000 career points, according to ovcsports.com. Payne averaged 20.2 points per game and six assists per game. With an average of 32.2 minutes of playing time every game, Payne managed to receive several honors through his two years as a Racer.

Payne was named a third-team All-American by CBSSports.com, received an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press and the Lute Olson National Player of the Year by CollegeInsider.com. He is projected to be a first round selection for the NBA Draft according to OVCSports.com.

Murray State has seen nine awards given to Racer athletes. Payne is no exception, his induction makes the seventh Racer to have the Male Athlete of the Year title. Among the former male athletes include Gary Hooker in 1980, Jeffery Martin Sr. in 1988 and 1989, Popeye Jones in 1991 and 1992, Marcus Brown in 1995, De’Teri Mayes in 1998 and Isaiah Canaan in 2012.

Payne is preparing for the NBA draft that take place June 25.