Keenan Hall
Staff writer
Late in conference play, Murray State men’s basketball sophomore forward Devin Gilmore has been a reliable factor off the bench for the Racers after logging 30 career minutes coming into this season.
In non-conference play, Gilmore averaged 9.0 minutes per game, but since the Racers’ game against Tennessee State on Jan. 26, he’s averaged 14.1 mpg. In a season-high 22 minutes of action against Eastern Kentucky, Gilmore went perfect from the floor scoring 12 points, seven rebounds and one steal.
Gilmore attributes his change in play to his mentality in practice.
“I took the approach that practice is just like a game but 10 times tougher,” Gilmore said. “Coach wants us to practice hard so when game time comes, it’s second nature to us.”
Head Coach Matt McMahon spoke highly of Gilmore after one of his best games of the year against EKU.
“His ability to finish plays around the basket and way above the rim is critical,” McMahon said. “Also, we were struggling in the first half on the defensive glass, but Gilmore was terrific in the second half on the weak side. He grabbed a lot of defensive rebounds for us.”
After losing bigs like Terrell Miller last year and senior forward Anthony Smith to injury early in the season, Gilmore came into the year ready to contribute for his teammates and coaches.
“Coach put some trust in me to perform and that has been reassuring,” Gilmore said. “I was surprised at first at my role, but all year my goal has been to increase that. It was frustrating at first, but I had my mom and my coaching staff in my ear encouraging me to stay consistent.”
The Picayune, Mississippi, native takes advantage of his athleticism and quick jumping ability to effectively rebound with the bigs on the floor. He is only 6 foot, 6 inches, weighing in at 200 pounds, but has the sixth-most total rebounds in conference play. Gilmore is tied for fourth place in blocks against OVC opponents.
“With Devin’s athleticism, he has been outstanding contesting shots around the basket over the last eight games,” McMahon said. “It’s a big part of our defense. When we do get beat, we can have guys step up and make the next play.”
Gilmore has appeared in 19 games this season, surpassing his freshman total of 13. Although he only averages 3.5 ppg, his athleticism allows him to affect the game in different areas.
“The more Gilmore gets to play, the more experience he will get. He will continue to make improvement,” McMahon said. “He earned his way onto the floor through his performance in practice.”
