The Murray State Racers scored 57 points in the first half on their way to a 102-58 victory over the Austin Peay Governors Saturday at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.
The win made the Racers (13-13) 7-5 in the OVC and tied them for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference West Division with UT Martin (8-5) in the loss column.
The Racers’ 44-point win is the most lopsided in series history with APSU, topping the 87-46 win (41 points) in 1949 which was played at Murray State’s Carr Health Building.
Terrell Miller paced six Racers in double-figure scoring with 22 points, while Damarcus Croaker, Gee McGhee and Jalen Dupree each scored 14 and Jonathan Stark 13 points. Gilbert Thomas added 12 points.
MSU got a great contribution from their bench with 45 points. Thomas and Dupree each scored new career highs at MSU in the win.
First Half
The game was 7-7 coming out of the first media timeout when MSU hit for an 8-0 run on two 3-pointers from Miller for a 16-8 lead with 12:40 in the half.
Leading 43-20, the Racers blew the game wide open with a Stark 3-pointer and a couple of run-out dunks by Thomas. It was 55-26 with under a minute in the half.
MSU led 57-26 at intermission marking their sixth half this season of 50 or more points.
The Racers shot 58 percent (22-of-38) in the first half and hit 5-of-9 from the 3-point line for 55 percent.
Second Half
MSU’s lead grew to 70-37 in the first four minutes of the half and then to 100-52 with 4:25 remaining.
The Racers shot 61 percent for the game (41-of-67) and held the Govs to 37 percent (20-of-54).
MSU had a dominant day on the boards in winning the rebound stat 43-21.
Game Notes
The game marked the 125th meeting between the Racers and Governors. MSU now leads the all-time series 82-43 including a home mark of 46-11.
After a loss at The Bank last season, the Racers got the win today and have won six of the last eight in the series.
Jonathan Stark had eight assists in the first half and ended with nine. The Racers nearly had a pair of guards get 10 assists. Jones had 10 assists for the third time this season.
The Racers’ 57-point first half was their first 50-plus first half since putting up 55 at home against Tennessee Tech on Jan. 23, 2014. It marked the sixth time this season of a 50-point half. MSU has five other second halves with 50 or more.
This marked MSU’s third game of 100 points this season and second in regulation time. MSU beat Bethel 103-65 at home (Dec. 12) and lost at Morehead State last week (Feb. 8) in overtime 101-100.
MSU is looking for the program’s 30th consecutive winning season, a run that is fourth among NCAA D-I teams. With this win, they’ve evened their mark at 13-13.
The Racers’ win of 44 points is the most lopsided win in the APSU series surpassing a 41-point win in 1949.
The win was also the largest margin of victory this season in the OVC. The previous best was SEMO beating EKU by 33 points (81-48) on Dec. 31.
MSU’s final regular season games are next week when they host SIUE on Thursday in a game that will be televised by ESPNU. Then Saturday (Feb. 18) is Senior Day when the Racers host Eastern Illinois.
Dave Winder
Murray State Athletics – Assistant AD – Media Relations