NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — KJ Williams led No. 23 Murray State with a career-high 39 points and the Racers extended their winning streak to 13 by rallying for a 73-62 win over Tennessee State on Thursday night.
The Racers (23-2, 13-0 Ohio Valley Conference) trailed for most of the first 30 minutes before mounting a comeback. Williams, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, made 15 of 22 from the floor and 7 of 9 from the foul line.
Murray State’s Tevon Brown had an off night with seven points on 2 of 10 shooting, and Racers guard Justice Hill was held nearly five points below his scoring average with nine points.
Guard Carlos Marshall led four Tigers in double figures with 13 points, and Kenny Cooper and Marcus Fitzgerald added 12 each.
It’s been 10 years since Tennessee State (10-15, 5-8) beat a ranked opponent, and while the Tigers tried on Thursday, they fell short.
Brown, the OVC's all-time leading 3-point shooter, buried a fall-away 3 with 12:45 left, giving Murray State its first lead, 46-44, since early in the game.
Tennessee State jumped out to a 14-8 lead, drawing a roar from the crowd after Carlos Marshall drained a 3-pointer with 11:36 left in the first half. A Kenny Cooper 3-pointer extended the Tigers’ lead to 25-12 with 8:56 remaining in the first half.
Murray State shot only 39% from the floor during the first 20 minutes as TSU grabbed a 36-29 halftime lead.
BIG PICTURE
Murray State: Having made it to the AP Top 25 this week for the first time in seven years, the Racers were sluggish early before coming to life during the last 10 minutes.
Tennessee State: The Tigers looked like they would pull off a stunner during the first 30 minutes before fading away.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Murray State might move up one spot after No. 22 St. Mary’s loss to Santa Clara on Tuesday night. No. 18 Marquette also lost on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Murray State: Visits Morehead State on Saturday in a showdown of Ohio Valley Conference powers.
Tennessee State: Visits Austin Peay on Saturday before returning home for three of its last four regular-season games.
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