(MURRAY, Ky.) — Murray State put on an offensive clinic Friday night, rolling past Mississippi Valley State 108-60 at CFSB Center before a crowd of 5,214.
The Racers (2-0) shot 48.1% from the field and hit 15 three-pointers in the blowout victory, building a 24-point halftime lead and never looking back.
Balanced Attack Leads Murray State
Ten different players scored for Murray State, led by Brayden Shorter’s 15 points on five three-pointers. Javon Jackson and Michael James each contributed 14 points, while Fredrick King added 13 points along with seven fouls drawn.
KJ Tenner orchestrated the offense with six assists to go with 10 points, and Roman Domon chipped in 12 points and four assists off the bench.
“We had great balance tonight,” said the Racers coaching staff after the game. “Our bench gave us 65 points, which was huge.”
Racers Control Both Ends
Murray State dominated from the opening tip, jumping out to a 47-23 halftime advantage. The Racers shot 45.7% in the first half while holding Mississippi Valley State to just 27.3% shooting.
The second half was more of the same as Murray State’s largest lead ballooned to 55 points late in the game. The Racers outscored the Delta Devils 61-37 after intermission.
Murray State held significant advantages in points in the paint (46-18), fast break points (23-13), and bench scoring (65-12). The Racers also forced 23 turnovers and converted them into 29 points.
Mississippi Valley State Struggles
Daniel Mayfield led Mississippi Valley State (1-2) with 17 points but needed 18 shots to get there. Patrick Punch added 11 points, and Michael James scored 14 points while playing all 40 minutes.
The Delta Devils shot just 31.7% from the field and were particularly cold from three-point range, connecting on only 4 of 15 attempts (26.7%). They managed just 60 points despite shooting a respectable 85.7% from the free throw line.
Mississippi Valley State never led in the game and held the advantage for only 1:05 of game time.
Key Moments
The game was competitive only briefly. After Mississippi Valley State took a 1-0 lead 17 minutes into the first half, Murray State responded with an 11-0 run and never relinquished control.
The Racers’ three-point shooting was particularly effective in the first half when they hit 8 of 21 attempts. Shorter was nearly perfect from beyond the arc in the opening period, draining five three-pointers.
A flagrant foul on Mississippi Valley State’s Mussa Mzein late in the second half only added to the Delta Devils’ frustration in a game that was already decided.
Looking Ahead
Murray State will look to continue its perfect start to the season while Mississippi Valley State returns home seeking to get back in the win column.
Game Notes: The 48-point margin of victory was Murray State’s largest of the young season… The Racers’ 108 points were a season high… Mississippi Valley State has now lost two straight after opening with a win… Officials for the game were Ed Crenshaw, John Hendricks, and Marcus Hawkins.
Box Score
- Mississippi Valley State: 60 (23-37)
- Murray State: 108 (47-61)
Leading Scorers:
- MVS: Mayfield 17, James 14, Punch 11
- MUR: Shorter 15, Jackson 14, James 14
Attendance: 5,214
