Senior forward, Jeffery Moss jumps from inside the paint during the game against SIUE Saturday night.
Story by Kelsey Randolph, Sports Editor
Opening tonight’s game with a dunk was junior guard Damarcus Croaker. Setting the precedence for the rest of the game, the Racers opened with strength and power winning against the Southern Illinois Edwardsville Cougars, 70-54.
“Tonight usually in the locker room I don’t usually single out guys,” said Head Coach Matt McMahon. It’s always about the team but tonight I thought was an exception. Eslik for them is an exceptional guard.”
In the first half the Racers went 28 percent from behind the arc and 40 percent from inside the field. Senior forward Wayne Langston and senior forward Jeffery Moss led the half with nine points a piece and Langston went 5-for-5 on free-throws. Croaker took the momentum from his first dunk and led the team in the half with rebounds, fueling the rest of the half. The Racers ended the first half shooting 15 of 16 free-throws. Highlighting the start of the game, the Racers ran an 11-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game.
“I thought the defensive energy and intensity was very good to start the game,” McMahon said. “Led to some easy baskets at the other end and I wish we could start every game like that.”
Entering the second half the Racers began with a jumper by Langston and two 3-pointers by Jones and Moss, respectively.
Players like freshman forward Charles Brown and junior forward A.J. Patty saw more than five minutes a piece on the floor.
“They gave us good minutes,” McMahon said. “I think combined they have five points and seven rebounds between them. They gave great effort at the defensive end, we’ve got to make some adjustments there so we don’t get in foul trouble when they come in off the bench but I think both of them stepped up and gave good minutes.”
Rounding out the night, Moss, Jones and Croacker led the team with 43 points between the three of them. Leading the team in rebounds and assists was junior forward Gee McGhee.
The Racers go back on the road, traveling to Richmond, Kentucky to play Eastern Kentucky (3-4 in the OVC and 12-10 overall) at Wednesday, January 27. The Racers now hold the No. 1 position for the OVC West. McMahon and Jones said the only thing in sight is the next game and the only conference team on their mind is the Murray State Racers.
“We want to make it to the OVC Tournament and make it to the NCAA Tournament and that’s what we are playing for,” Jones said.