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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team fell to visiting Murray State, 58-50, on Thursday night in both schools’ OVC openers as the Racers held EKU to just five points in the last 10 minutes of the contest. With the loss, the Colonels drop to 4-3 (0-1 OVC) while Murray State improves to 5-1 (1-0 OVC).
EKU labored through its worst shooting night of the season on Thursday, shooting just 19 percent from three-point range, including 0-for-11 in the second half. The Colonels were also out-rebounded by Murray State, 40-25.
Junior Papa Oppong led all scorers with a career-high 19 points on 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) shooting. He also recorded five rebounds. Junior Josh Taylor came off the bench to score 11. EKU’s leading scorer, senior Mike Rose, netted only two points on just 1-of-6 (16.7 percent) shooting. It was Rose’s lowest points total since his freshman year.
Three Murray State players scored in double figures. Sophomore Jeffery McClain led the way, recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Danero Thomas and sophomore Isaac Miles both chipped in with 11.
After Murray State started the game on a 12-3 run, Taylor nailed two consecutive three-pointers to slice the deficit to three with 14 minutes left in the first half. Two consecutive buckets by Murray State then ballooned the Racers’ lead to 16-9 before Oppong cut the lead to one with a three-pointer followed by a three-point play.
Following a Murray State run in which the Racers’ lead was stretched to nine, junior Dayvon Ellis brought the Colonels back to within four, 31-27, with a layup and a three-point play before halftime
After hitting their first four three-pointers of the game, the Colonels went just 1-for-11 during the remainder of the first half and entered halftime shooting just 33 percent from behind the arc.
Oppong led all scorers at halftime with 11 points on 4-of-5 (80 percent) shooting. Rose finished the first half with zero points on only two shot attempts.
McClain paced the Racers at halftime with eight points and eight rebounds.
A bucket and a foul shot by Oppong and a layup from Ellis gave the Colonels their first lead of the game, 32-31, just seconds into the second stanza. With 15:37 showing on the clock, freshman Deveyon Hunter converted a three-point play to give EKU its second lead of the game at 39-38.
EKU maintained its slim advantage until, with 6:31 remaining in the game, Murray State junior Tony Easley hit two free throws to give the Racers a 47-45 lead, their first since early in the second half. Another bucket in the paint by Easley extended Murray State’s lead to four with just over five minutes left in the game.
A free throw by Oppong with just over a minute left drew the Colonels to within six, 52-46, and snapped a nine-minute scoring drought by EKU. The Colonels had not scored since 10:18 remaining in the game. With 30 seconds showing on the clock, freshman Mike Lewis hit a layup and was fouled, but he missed the ensuing free throw that would have pulled EKU to within three.
The Colonels return to action on Saturday, Dec. 6, as they host UT Martin. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.
