(Photos by Dave Winder, MSU Athletics)
PANTHERS STUN STREAKING RACERS
Marvin Johnson scored 18 points as Eastern Illinois blistered the nets with 59% shooting from the field in a 68-59 win over Murray State last night at the CFSB Center. MSU was outrebounded 34-26, and and made only 4 of 21 three-pointers. Racer head coach Matt McMahon credited Eastern Illinois great start in each half. Chico Carter, Junior had a game-high 21 points. The Racers are now 12-10 overall and 9-8 in the OVC. They will close out the home portion of the season when they host SIUE tomorrow night at 7:30 in a game that airs at 7 on FROGGY 103.7. In other men’s games last night: SIUE tomorrow night at 7:30 in a game that airs at 7 on FROGGY 103.7. In other men’s games last night:
Belmont 63, Jacksonville State 59
Austin Peay 79, SIUE 57
Tennessee State 91, Tennessee Tech 86
Eastern Kentucky 89, UT Martin 72
CATS AT TENNESSEE, CARDS HOPE TO FACE TAR HEELS
Kentucky will visit Tennessee tomorrow afternoon in a SEC rivalry matchup in Knoxville. The Wildcats have won their last two and are 7-and-13 with a 6-and-7 league ledger. The Vols are 15-and-5 and 8-and-5. The Louisville Cardinals have not played since February 1st because of COVID-19 issues. They are scheduled to visit North Carolina tomorrow.
YOUNG’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADS RACERS PAST EIU
The Murray State women’s basketball team outscored Eastern Illinois 17-5 in the third quarter to break open a close game and go on to a 69-52 win over the Panthers. In the decisive quarter, the Racers limited the Panthers to 1-of-16 shooting from the field. MSU head coach Rechelle Turner credited her staff with helping her team make halftime adjustments. Katelyn Young led the Racers with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Macey Turley followed with 19 points. With three games left in the regular season, Murray State is now 12-10 on the year, 9-8 in the OVC and currently seventh in the league standings. The Racers close out the home slate with a 4:30 game against SIUE tomorrow, with airtime set for 4 pm on WNBS AM and FM. In other women’s games:
Belmont 54, Jacksonville State 53
Austin Peay 59, SIUE 40
Tennessee Tech 68, Tennessee State 52
UT Martin 77, Morehead State 38
Eastern Kentucky 82, Southeast Missouri 72
(3) Louisville 82, Pittsburgh 58
(21) Tennessee 75, (2) South Carolina 67
ALL-A CLASSIC BACK ON WITH ALTERNATE FORMAT
The All “A” Classic Board of Directors met in a special call meeting yesterday afternoon and decided to play the 2021 Kentucky All-A Classic with an alternate format which will consist of a sectional game followed by a semi-state game. The final four teams in both girls and boys divisions will advance to Eastern Kentucky University on March 5 & March 6. Sectionals must be completed by February 25th and semi-state games must be completed by March 3rd. Under the new format, Murray High’s girls will host Crittenden County while the Murray High boys travel to Lyon County. Times and dates will be announced later.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RESUMES SATURDAY
After numerous weather related postponements, high school hoops will return. In high school basketball games tomorrow, Murray High’s boys will face Madisonville at 11:30 in the morning at Marshall County Hoopfest. Airtime is set for 11 am on WNBS AM and FM. The Calloway County girls travel to McCracken County for a 2 pm game. Airtime is set for 1:45 on WBZB. Also tomorrow, the Laker boys play at Hopkins County Central in a 2 pm game.
RACER BASEBALL OPENER MOVED TO SUNDAY
Due to inclement weather Murray State baseball’s season opener at Lipscomb that was originally scheduled for 3 pm today in Nashville has been postponed. The teams will now play a Sunday doubleheader beginning at noon, and a 1 pm game on Monday.
RACER SOFTBALL PLAYS AT JAGUAR CLASSIC
Murray State softball is slated to play five games over three days at the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, Alabama. The 1-3 Racers are set to have two contests against both South Alabama and Butler, and a single game against Lipscomb. The action begins this morning at 10:30 with a game against Butler, and followed by a 3:30 game this afternoon against South Alabama.
MSU VOLLEYBALL AT SIUE
The Racer Volleyball team will travel to SIU-Edwardsville to take on the Cougars this weekend. First serve is set for 6 pm tomorrow and 4 pm on Sunday. Each team enters the weekend with a record of 1-1.
CROSS COUNTRY COMPETES IN LOUISVILLE
The Murray State men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the Kentucky Indoor Collegiate on Saturday at the Norton HealthCare Sports and Learning Center in Louisville, Both Racer teams will be competing in the 5K. The women will run at 1:45 pm. Central, while the men’s race will take place at approximately 2:10 pm.
OVC TOURNEY TICKETS GO ON SALE MONDAY
Single-session tickets for the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships presented by Kentucky Wild will go on sale at 10 am Monday Tickets for the men’s session are $30 per adult and $10 for children 12 and under per session. Tickets for the women’s sessions are $15 per adult and $5 for children 12 and under. There is limited seating available and tickets must be purchased in socially-distanced seating pods of two or four seats. Fans can purchase single-session tickets through Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Center ticket office. The event will be held March 3 through March 6 at the Ford Center in Evansville.
AREA HOCKEY ROUNDUP
The Nashville Predators fell 3-0 to Columbus sending the Preds to their fifth loss in six games. The two teams will meet again tomorrow in Columbus. David Perron’s power-play goal with one minute to play in overtime gave the Blues a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks at the Enterprise Center. The teams face off tomorrow night in St. Louis.
MEMPHIS TO HOST DETROIT TONIGHT
The Grizzlies will play the Pistons tonight and the Suns tomorrow night to wrap up a four-game homestand. Memphis is coming off a nine-point win Wednesday over Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies are 12-and-12, while Detroit is 8-and-20.
NATIONAL SPORTS BRIEFS
The Lakers’ LeBron James and the Nets’ Kevin Durant will serve as captains for next month’s NBA All-Star Game. They received the most votes in their respective conferences and will choose sides among the remaining pool of players. The All-Star Game is March 7th in Atlanta.
The Eagles have found a new home for quarterback Carson Wentz. Multiple reports say they’ve agreed to trade Wentz to the Colts. Philadelphia gets a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick in return. Wentz is coming off his worst season in 2020.
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto has a broken thumb. It happened while blocking a pitch last week, but an MRI just now revealed a small fracture. Realmuto will be immobilized for two weeks, but says he’ll be ready for Opening Day. He just signed a 115-million-dollar contract.
The Oakland A’s are adding an arm and a bat as spring training unfolds in Mesa, Arizona. MLB.com reports they’ve agreed to a one-year, 11-million-dollar deal with closer Trevor Rosenthal. The A’s have also reportedly signed first baseman Mitch Moreland to a one-year contract.
Sam Burns is atop the leaderboard after the first day of The Genesis Invitational. He shot a seven-under 64 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California to lead Max Homa and Matthew Fitzpatrick by two strokes. Eight others are tied for fourth at four-under.
THURSDAY’S SCOREBOARD
NBA
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Toronto Raptors 110, Milwaukee Bucks 96
Brooklyn Nets 109, Los Angeles Lakers 98
Miami Heat 118, Sacramento Kings 110
NHL
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New Jersey Devils 3, Boston Bruins 2
New York Rangers 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2 (SO)
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, New York Islanders 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Nashville Predators 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Ottawa Senators 3
Washington Capitals 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
St. Louis Blues 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Arizona Coyotes 2 (SO)
Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 1
Top-25 College Basketball (Coaches’ Poll)
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#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs 87, Saint Mary’s Gaels 65
#3 Michigan Wolverines 71, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 64
#4 Ohio State Buckeyes 92, Penn State Nittany Lions 82
Wichita State Shockers 68, #5 Houston Cougars 63
#14 Iowa Hawkeyes 77, #21 Wisconsin Badgers 62
#25 Oregon Ducks 60, Colorado Buffaloes 56
PGA The Genesis Invitational (at Pacific Palisades, CA)
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1. Sam Burns (-7)
T2. Max Homa (-5)
T2. Matthew Fitzpatrick (-5)
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE (All times are Eastern)
NBA
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7:00 p.m. – Golden State Warriors at Orlando Magic
7:00 p.m. – Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers
7:30 p.m. – Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. – Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
8:00 p.m. – Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies
8:00 p.m. – Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks
8:00 p.m. – Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Pelicans
9:00 p.m. – Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves
10:00 p.m. – Utah Jazz at LA Clippers
NHL
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7:00 p.m. – Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes
7:00 p.m. – Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings
9:00 p.m. – Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames
10:00 p.m. – Winnipeg Jets at Vancouver Canucks
Top-25 College Basketball (Coaches’ Poll)
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No Games Scheduled
PGA
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The Genesis Invitational (at Pacific Palisades, CA)
