The Murray State Racers lost a heartbreaker Thursday to the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks by a final score of 75-74 at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.
Jonathan Stark hit a jumper that looked like the one that would put the Racers over the top giving them a 74-73 lead with 1:15 remaining. However, a pair of free throws from SEMO’s Trey Kellum with five-seconds left gave the Redhawks a 75-74 win on the Racers’ home court.
The Racers (11-11) fell to 5-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference West Division and into a three-way tie with SEMO (10-13, 5-3) and UT Martin (15-8, 5-3 OVC).
Murray State hosts the Skyhawks Saturday in a 7 p.m. tip at the CFSB Center.
Stark led the Racers with 24 points, while Gee McGhee added 16 points and MSU got 15 from Terrell Miller, Jr., and 11 from Bryce Jones.
First Half
Gee McGhee came off the MSU bench and scored 12 points in the first half. His layup with 10:42 gave MSU a 17-10 lead.
The lead went to 12 (28-16) when McGhee hit a 3-point basket with 7:44 left.
The Racers largest lead of the game came with 5:26 left when Damarcus Croaker hit a layup for a 33-19 advantage.
MSU led 41-32 at the half.
Second Half
Murray State’s 41-32 lead was gone by the 16:20 mark, when SEMO completed a 12-2 run to take the lead at 44-43.
MSU was down 71-63 with 4:20 left and the stage was set for an amazing finish.
Stark hit in the lane and Miller hit a 3-pointer and SEMO’s lead was 71-68 with 3:32 left.
With 2:51 left, SEMO’s Milos Vranes fouled out and Miller made both free throws to cut SEMO’s lead to 71-70.
Stark’s drive to the basket with 2:06 left gave MSU the lead at 72-71. But SEMO’s Trey Kellum gave the lead right back to the Redhawks with 1:40 left at 73-72. Again Stark gave MSU the lead on a drive with 1:10 remaining at 74-73. With :49 left, SEMO missed two layups and MSU held the ball until late in the shot clock where Miller missed a 3-point try with :20 left. Kellum was fouled with :05 left and hit the free throws to win it for SEMO.
Game Notes
Jonathan Stark’s run of consecutive games with at least one 3-point basket ended when he was 0-of-5. His run included all of the previous 21 games this season. Isaiah Canaan holds the MSU record of 40 that spanned his junior season of 2011-12 and some of 2012-13 senior season.
Gee McGhee’s 16 points off the bench was a bright spot for MSU. It’s his season-high, topping the 11 points he had at Southern Illinois (Nov. 29).
The Racers had won the last four against SEMO since a loss on the road in overtime in 2015. MSU had won the last three at home against SEMO since the last loss in 2013.
The Racers are at home against the UT Martin Skyhawks on a doubleheader day at the CFSB Center Saturday. The tip times are 5 p.m. for the Women’s match up and 7 p.m for the men’s.
The Skyhawks won at Austin Peay tonight 85-79 and the Racers will be facing a hot UTM team. In the win over APSU, Jacolby Mobley scored a career-best 36 against the Govs and had 27 of the points in the first half.
SEMO plays at Austin Peay Saturday.
Dave Winder
Murray State Athletics – Assistant AD – Media Relations
