Jakob Milani
Sports Editor
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Basketball season officially kicked off for Murray State on Monday, Nov. 2, as both the men’s and women’s teams played in exhibition games.

Women’s game vs Trevecca Nazarene

The women’s team started off the night taking on the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans. The Racers defeated the Trojans 95-62 in a game where everyone contributed for Murray State.

The game started off with the teams going back and forth trading baskets. The Trojans took the lead early with a mid-range jumper from junior forward Kor Fornesa Liu, putting them up 7-4.

The Racers quickly took back the lead with back-to-back layups from senior forward Alexis Burpo and sophomore forward Hannah McKay to put the Racers up 8-7. The Racers built up their lead over the remainder of the quarter. Freshman guard Claira McGowan led the Racers with seven points in the quarter and the Racers went into the second quarter 28-11.

The Racers’ offense kept the pressure on in the second quarter with three pointers from McGowan, senior guard Macey Turley and senior guard Lex Mayes. 

Mayes led the Racers in scoring in the second quarter with seven points, followed closely by Burpo with six points on three for three shooting from the field. The Racers went into halftime up 50-33 over the Trojans.

The Racers’ offense continued to push on with a 7-0 run over a minute early on in the third quarter. The run included free throws from McKay, a three-pointer from Mayes and a layup from sophomore forward and runner-up OVC Newcomer of the Year for 2020-21 Katelyn Young.

Freshman forward Jaidah Black scored her first point as a Racer in the third quarter with a pair of free throws and a layup, putting the Racers up 73-50.

The Racers finished the third quarter with three free throws from McGowan and another free throw from sophomore forward Charlee Settle. The Racers headed into the final quarter up 77-54.

The fourth quarter was all Murray State. Turley got the quarter started with a quick three pointer, then Young followed up with a layup to make it 82-57. McKay made a shot of here own to push the Racers to 84 points.

Mayes got in on the action with a three-pointer of her own later on. Sophomore center Lucia Operto pushed the Racers to a 30-point lead with a layup to put the Racers up 89-59. The Racers closed it out with free throws from freshman guard Cayson Conner and junior forward Isabell West. The Racers defeated the Trojans by a score of 95-62.

Men’s game vs Brescia

The men’s team followed it up with a win of their own as they defeated the Brescia Bearcats by a score of 95-41. Brescia was led by Head Coach Sarah Gayler, the first woman head coach in NAIA basketball history. Gayler was a part of the Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff when they won the 2021 NBA finals.

The Racers started the game with a 12-0 run, beginning with a layup from junior forward KJ Williams. Junior guard Tevin Brown followed it up with two three-pointers and sophomore guard Trae Hannibal also had two layups during the run.

Brescia answered with three three-pointers, including one from junior forward Jalen Rose. The Racers then went on another 9-0 run, including two layups from freshman forward Nicholas McMullen and a three pointer from sophomore guard Daquan Smith.  The Racers went up 23-9.

The Racers continued to make runs in the half with another 12-0 run that started with a jumper by sophomore guard Justin Hill. Brown added on with a dunk, following a steal by Hannibal. Hill made two more layups before the end of the run to put the Racers up 36-14.

The Racers ended the half on a 7-0 run that began with a jumper from sophomore forward DJ Burns, followed up by a dunk from Williams and ended with a free throw from Burns. The Racers went into the locker room at halftime up 49-20.

Brown led the Racers in the first half with 10 points, followed by Williams with eight points. Hannibal recorded three assists and four steals, leading the Racers in both stats.

The Racers picked up right where they left off in the first half with an 8-0 run. All eight points were scored by Williams, including two free throws and three straight layups.

Hannibal, Brown and senior forward Jordan Skipper-Brown each scored on the Racers next 7-0 run, including a three pointer from Brown that put the Racers up 64-23.

Freshman guard Jackson Sivills and Smith led the way for the Racers following run. Sivills started  with a pair of free throws, then Smith hit a three-pointer to extend the Racers’ lead to 44. Burns got in on the run with a layup and a pair of free throws, putting the Racers up 74-25.

Sophomore guard Rod Thomas led the way for the Racers down the stretch with two layups and a pair of free throws to put the nail in the coffin. The Racers defeated the Bearcats by a score of 95-41. 
Burns finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Racers in both categories. Williams finished with 16 points, while Brown finished with 13. McMullen finished the game with 10 points. Hannibal ended the game with four steals and seven points. Skipper-Brown had six points, eight rebounds and four assists, the most on the team.

The games were exhibition games so neither counted toward either team’s records. The official first games will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at home. The women’s team plays first as they take on the Asbury University Eagles at 11 a.m. The men’s team takes on the Cumberland University Phoenix later that night at 7 p.m.