The Murray State Racers rolled to their sixth-straight home win Saturday with an 88-73 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.
The Racers (16-5) won their third-straight game to move to 8-2 and stay one game off the pace of Belmont (9-1) for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
In another great offensive night, the Racers got 22 points from Jonathan Stark on six 3-point baskets, while Ja Morant and Byron Hawkins each added 16 points. Terrell Miller, Jr., had his eighth double-double this season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Half way through the first half, the Racers held EKU scoreless for a stretch of 3:30. During this period, the Racers got 3-pointers from Hawkins and Stark and hit six-straight shots for a 14-0 run to lead 20-13 with 9:56 before half. The Racer run went to 19-2 on another Stark 3-pointer for a 28-15 lead at 7:35.
EKU had a 6-0 run in the final minutes to cut MSU’s halftime lead to 39-33.
Back to back 3-pointers by Stark & Miller, followed by a fast break finish by Brion Sanchious made it 56-39 Racers with 14:23 remaining.
MSU’s largest lead of 21 points came with 11:20 remaining when it was 64-43 on a basket by Morant.
Game Notes
The Racers have won the last four meetings in their series with EKU and the last three at home since a loss in 2013. MSU leads the all-time series with EKU 100-61 and are 55-21 at home.
The Racers have won six-straight games at home in the CFSB Center and are now 11-2 this season.
Stark has led MSU in scoring in each of the last 11 games.
MSU has settled into a starting five of: Miller, Stark, Morant, Dupree and Buchanan. They’ve started 13-straight games and are 10-3.
Stark now has 1,144 points at MSU and is pressing to become the all-time two-year scorer. DT Mayes (1996-98) is on top with 1,340 points and Cameron Payne (2013-15) is second with 1,279.
Stark’s six 3-pointers marks the sixth time this season that he has made five or more in a game.
Miller is pushing to become a member of the MSU 1000-Point Club. After his 14-point performance tonight, he has 847.
MSU had a very efficient night in assisting on 18 of their 33 field goals for 54 percent.
MSU won the rebound stat tonight 36-23 and limited EKU to only six offensive boards. MSU is 14-2 this season when winning the battle of the boards.
MSU Now has eight games this season with 10 or more made 3-point baskets. MSU is 7-1 in those games with the lone loss being at Jacksonville State.
MSU hits the road next week for games at Southeast Missouri Thursday and UT Martin on Saturday.
Dave Winder – Department of Athletics – Murray State ​State University​
Associate AD – Media Relations
