Jakob Milani
Sports Editor
[email protected]
The 21st-ranked Murray State men’s basketball team extended their win streak to 14 with their 57-53 win over Morehead State on Saturday, Feb. 12.
The Racers were led to victory by junior forward KJ Williams, who recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds against the Eagles.
Senior guard Carter Collins got the scoring going for the Racers with a three-pointer, but junior guard Jake Wolfe answered with a three-pointer of his own. Following a layup from Collins, Wolfe made another three-pointer to put the Eagles up 6-5.
The three from Wolfe was the start of a 10-0 run for the Eagles, who saw a three-pointer from junior guard Skyelar Potter as well as jumpers from Wolfe and graduate guard Tray Hallowell.
The Racers answered with a 6-0 run of their own with layups from Williams and sophomore guard Trae Hannibal and a jump shot from sophomore guard Justice Hill. The run brought the Racers within two points of the lead with the Eagles up 15-13.
Junior guard Jaylon Hall extended the Eagles lead to five with a three-pointer, but a layup from Hannibal and free throws from Hill brought the Racers to within just one point. The Eagles kept their lead intact, though, with free throws from Wolfe and a three-pointer from Hallowell, putting the Eagles up 23-17.
The Racers kept digging at the lead as Hannibal and Williams both got layups to fall. Then, an and-one play from Williams put the Racers up by one point with 2:30 to go in the first half.
The Eagles were quick to get the lead back as Potter drained a three-pointer from the wing. Freshman forward Johni Broome got one last layup to fall before the buzzer, and the Eagles went into halftime up 28-24.
Williams led the Racers at half with nine points, six rebounds and three steals. Hannibal had six points on a perfect 3-3 shooting from the field. Collins had five points with a three-pointer and a layup.
Wolfe led the Eagles with 12 points on 4-5 shooting from the field and 2-2 shooting from three-point range. Potter had six points with two three-pointers. Hallowell had five points with a three and a jumper.
The Eagles shot 50% from the field in the first half, while the Racers shot 31% from the field and just 7% from three-point range.
Broome got the second half started with a quick layup, but Williams answered with a jumpshot on the other end. Then, a three-pointer from Collins tied the game at 29 points.
The teams continued to trade baskets as the half went on until the Eagles managed to grab hold of the lead thanks to a layup from Broome. Another jumper from Broome put the Eagles up 41-36 with nine minutes left on the clock.
The Eagles lead was extended to nine points with another layup from Broome and a pair of free throws from Hall. The Racers battled to stay in the game, but as the clock showed five minutes left, the Eagles were up 49-40.
Junior guard Tevin Brown got a layup to fall, but a free throw from Broome kept the Eagles up by eight points. From there, the Racers worked their way up with free throws from Hill, a three-pointer from Brown and a layup from Williams, putting the team up 51-50 with 1:56 on the clock.
Williams got another layup to go, but Hallowell kept the Eagles in it with a three-pointer to tie the game. However, a layup from Brown and a pair of free throws from Williams were enough to keep the Racers up at the final buzzer. Murray State defeated Morehead State 57-53.
Williams led the way for the Racers with 21 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. Hill finished with 11 points and seven assists. Collins had eight points in the game, while Brown and Hannibal each had seven points.
Broom finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Wolfe had 12 points, while Hallowell and Potter each had eight points.
With the win, Murray State improves to 14-0 in conference play and 24-2 overall. The Racers, one of three unbeaten conference teams in the country, continue their season at home against Austin Peay on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m.
