MONDAY'S SCORES
@Alabama 78,
Murray State 72
ALABAMA 78, MURRAY STATE 72
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Ja Morant scored 38 points, but the Racers couldn’t overcome a slow-shooting first half in a 78-72 defeat Monday against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.
The Racers (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season and return home Saturday to host Prairie View A&M at the CFSB Center in a 7 p.m. tip.
With more than 30 NBA scouts attending the game, in part to see Ja Morant, the MSU sophomore put on a show that had the home crowd cheering him when he capped the night with two thunderous dunks to total a career-high 38 points on 16-of-29 shooting. Morant added five assists and nine rebounds.
After suffering 36 percent shooting in the first half, the Racers led early 9-4, but were trailing 39-29 at the half.
MSU started the second half hot when they got a 3-pointer from Tevin Brown for a 7-0 run to make it a 39-37 game only 1:21 into the half. MSU took the lead 44-43 on a fast break basket by Morant at the 15:36 mark. At the 10-minute mark, the Racers went back in front 52-51 on a Morant rebound and score, but Bama went on a 6-0 run with 8:16 remaining the Racers never recovered. Morant hit a pair of free throws with 1:41 left to make a 67-64 game, but MSU never got the chance to tie it.
Morant was MSU’s only double-figure scorer, followed by Buchanan with nine points and seven rebounds.