FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 80, Southeast Missouri 60
MURRAY STATE 80, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 60
MURRAY, Ky. - Head coach Matt McMahon moved into third place for career wins in Murray State men's basketball history as the Racers scored an 80-60 victory over the visiting southeast Missouri Redhawks at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.
McMahon's 120 wins in six seasons at Murray State pushed him past MSU Hall of Famer Coach Ron Greene, who won 119 games for the Racers from 1978-85. McMahon's career mark of 120-60 produces a winning percentage of .668, which is also third among MSU coaches who served in six or more seasons.
The Racers moved above the break-even mark in total record (10-9) and evened their mark in the Ohio Valley Conference at 7-7. The game was moved back a day after winter storm Shirley hit the region with snow and ice on Wednesday night.
Chico Carter, Jr. scored 22 points, after he set his career-high of 23 points last Saturday at Eastern Kentucky. Carter was 9-of-13 from the field including 4-of-5 from the 3-point line. KJ Williams scored 17 points to go with seven rebounds, while Tevin Brown flirted with a triple-double on 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
The Racers took their first double-digit lead with 6:32 left in the first half on a layup by Williams to make it 26-15. MSU finished the first half on a 9-2 run to lead 42-30. SEMO got as close as 10 points with 9:03 left in the game. With 5:24 left, Brown found Carter for his 18th 3-pointer in his last 29 attempts over his last five games. Carter's three put MSU ahead 71-53. Justice Hill hit a 3-pointer and Brown a pair of free throws to make it a 21-point lead 76-55 with 4:23 remaining.
After SEMO scored the first basket of the game, the Racers never trailed after Carter made a 3-pointer just 2:40 into the contest. The Racers scored 36 points in the paint and 17 points on fast breaks.