Williams scores 39 points, No. 23 Murray State beats Tenn St
AP
Feb 11, 2022
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) KJ Williams put on a show Thursday night.
The 6-foot-10 forward led No. 23 Murray State Racers with a career-high 39 points and the Racers extended their winning streak to 13 by rallying for a 73-62 win over Tennessee State Tigers.
''Oh, it was one of the great performances in the history of Murray State basketball,'' Racers coach Matt McMahon said. ''I'm glad I got to have a front-row seat to witness it. He's one of the all-time greats at Murray State.''
Williams scored 31 points in the second half, fueling the Racers' comeback.
Murray State (23-2, 13-0 Ohio Valley Conference) trailed for most of the first 30 minutes before Williams went to work. The 6-foot-10 junior forward made 15 of 22 from the floor and 7 of 9 from the foul line.
''It was a toughness game both offensively and defensively,'' Williams said. ''Pretty much, I just got hot and I like environments like that. I just played up to my potential and it showed tonight.''
Williams was the only Racer in double figures. Murray State's Tevon Brown had an off night with seven points on 2 of 10 shooting, and Racers guard Justice Hill was held nearly five points below his scoring average with nine points.
''Man, he's an all-league player,'' Tennessee State coach Brian Collins said. ''He stepped up and showed us why he is. He had a great skill set around the rim. Those fadeaway jump shots he was making - we were there, we were contesting and just stepped up and made some big-time plays tonight.''
Guard Carlos Marshall led four Tigers in double figures with 13 points, and Kenny Cooper and Marcus Fitzgerald added 12 each.
It's been 10 years since Tennessee State (10-15, 5-8) beat a ranked opponent, and while the Tigers tried on Thursday, they fell short.
Brown, the OVC's all-time leading 3-point shooter, buried a fall-away 3 with 12:45 left, giving Murray State its first lead, 46-44, since early in the game.
Tennessee State jumped out to a 14-8 lead, drawing a roar from the crowd after Carlos Marshall drained a 3-pointer with 11:36 left in the first half. A Kenny Cooper 3-pointer extended the Tigers' lead to 25-12 with 8:56 remaining in the first half.
Murray State shot only 39% from the floor during the first 20 minutes as TSU grabbed a 36-29 halftime lead.
BIG PICTURE
Murray State: Having made it to the AP Top 25 this week for the first time in seven years, the Racers were sluggish early before coming to life during the last 10 minutes.
Tennessee State: The Tigers looked like they would pull off a stunner during the first 30 minutes before fading away.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Murray State might move up one spot after No. 22 St. Mary's loss to Santa Clara on Tuesday night. No. 18 Marquette also lost on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Murray State: Visits Morehead State on Saturday in a showdown of Ohio Valley Conference powers.
Tennessee State: Visits Austin Peay on Saturday before returning home for three of its last four regular-season games.
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1st Half
MURR
Racers
29
TNST
Tigers
36
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
KJ Williams vs. Emmanuel Dowuona (Racers gains possession)
19:40
Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
19:38
Kassim Nicholson defensive rebound
19:24
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. offensive foul
18:58
Tevin Brown turnover (bad pass) (Kenny Cooper steals)
18:36
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:34
KJ Williams defensive rebound
18:26
KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
18:24
DJ Burns offensive rebound
18:21
Carlos Marshall Jr. shooting foul (DJ Burns draws the foul)
18:21
+1
DJ Burns makes regular free throw 1 of 2
1-0
18:21
+1
DJ Burns makes regular free throw 2 of 2
2-0
18:12
Kenny Cooper misses two point jump shot
18:10
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
17:55
+2
KJ Williams makes two point jump shot (Carter Collins assists)
4-0
17:39
+2
Kassim Nicholson makes two point jump shot
4-2
17:39
DJ Burns shooting foul (Kassim Nicholson draws the foul)
17:39
+1
Kassim Nicholson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
4-3
17:19
DJ Burns misses two point jump shot
17:17
Carlos Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
16:45
Kassim Nicholson misses two point layup
16:43
Carter Collins defensive rebound
16:39
Justice Hill turnover (bad pass) (Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. steals)
16:35
KJ Williams blocks Carlos Marshall Jr.'s two point layup
16:33
Tigers offensive rebound
16:30
Nicholas McMullen shooting foul (Shakem Johnson draws the foul)
16:30
Shakem Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:30
Shakem Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:30
Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
16:11
Justice Hill turnover (lost ball) (Tajik Bartholomew steals)
15:46
Shakem Johnson misses two point hook shot
15:44
Kassim Nicholson offensive rebound
15:37
Kassim Nicholson turnover (lost ball) (Justice Hill steals)
15:34
Trae Hannibal misses two point dunk
15:33
Tigers defensive rebound
15:08
+2
Tajik Bartholomew makes two point jump shot
4-5
15:08
+2
Tajik Bartholomew makes two point jump shot
4-5
14:44
KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
14:42
Tigers defensive rebound
14:41
DJ Burns personal foul (Kassim Nicholson draws the foul)
14:23
Nicholas McMullen shooting foul (Shakem Johnson draws the foul)
14:23
Shakem Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:23
+1
Shakem Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-6
14:23
+1
Shakem Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-6
14:13
+2
KJ Williams makes two point jump shot (Carter Collins assists)
6-6
13:49
+2
Carlos Marshall Jr. makes two point layup
6-8
13:26
+2
Trae Hannibal makes two point layup
8-8
13:08
+2
Kenny Cooper makes two point layup
8-10
12:46
Carter Collins turnover (lost ball) (Tajik Bartholomew steals)
12:22
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses two point layup
12:20
Kassim Nicholson offensive rebound
12:19
Kassim Nicholson misses two point layup
12:17
Kassim Nicholson offensive rebound
12:17
Tevin Brown shooting foul (Kassim Nicholson draws the foul)
12:17
+1
Kassim Nicholson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
8-11
12:17
Kassim Nicholson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:17
Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
12:13
Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
12:11
Shakem Johnson defensive rebound
11:50
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses two point jump shot
11:48
KJ Williams defensive rebound
11:44
Shakem Johnson blocks Tevin Brown's two point layup
11:42
Shakem Johnson defensive rebound
11:36
+3
Carlos Marshall Jr. makes three point jump shot
8-14
11:36
TV timeout
11:16
+2
Carter Collins makes two point dunk
10-14
10:52
+2
Shakem Johnson makes two point layup
10-16
10:26
Jalen Dupree personal foul (Justice Hill draws the foul)
10:21
Kenny Cooper blocks Justice Hill's three point jump shot
10:19
Dedric Boyd defensive rebound
10:07
+3
Kenny Cooper makes three point jump shot (Shakem Johnson assists)
10-19
9:48
+2
KJ Williams makes two point jump shot
12-19
9:29
+3
Dedric Boyd makes three point jump shot (Kenny Cooper assists)
12-22
9:05
Trae Hannibal misses two point jump shot
9:03
Dedric Boyd defensive rebound
8:55
+3
Kenny Cooper makes three point jump shot (Carlos Marshall Jr. assists)
12-25
8:16
Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
8:44
+3
Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists)
15-25
8:25
+2
Shakem Johnson makes two point dunk (Carlos Marshall Jr. assists)
15-27
8:16
Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
8:14
Shakem Johnson defensive rebound
7:45
Jalen Dupree misses three point jump shot
7:43
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
7:17
Jalen Dupree blocks Carter Collins's two point layup
7:15
Racers offensive rebound
7:15
TV timeout
7:12
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. shooting foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
7:12
+1
Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-27
7:12
Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:12
Kassim Nicholson defensive rebound
6:51
Jalen Dupree turnover (bad pass)
6:46
Kassim Nicholson blocks Tevin Brown's two point jump shot
6:44
Emmanuel Dowuona defensive rebound
6:19
Emmanuel Dowuona misses two point layup
6:17
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
6:05
+2
Trae Hannibal makes two point jump shot
18-27
5:45
+2
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. makes two point jump shot
18-29
5:41
Trae Hannibal misses two point jump shot
5:39
Dedric Boyd defensive rebound
5:18
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses three point jump shot
5:16
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
4:55
+2
DJ Burns makes two point layup (Trae Hannibal assists)
20-29
4:30
Dedric Boyd misses three point jump shot
4:28
Kassim Nicholson offensive rebound
4:14
+2
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. makes two point layup
20-31
3:45
+3
Carter Collins makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)
23-31
3:25
Dedric Boyd misses two point jump shot
3:23
Carter Collins defensive rebound
3:21
Emmanuel Dowuona personal foul (Carter Collins draws the foul)
3:21
TV timeout
3:09
Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
3:07
Kassim Nicholson defensive rebound
2:40
Tevin Brown shooting foul (Kassim Nicholson draws the foul)
2:40
+1
Kassim Nicholson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-32
2:40
Kassim Nicholson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:40
DJ Burns defensive rebound
2:24
Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
2:22
Racers offensive rebound
2:22
Carlos Marshall Jr. blocks Trae Hannibal's two point dunk
2:20
Carlos Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
2:09
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:07
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
1:56
Kenny Cooper personal foul
1:48
Tevin Brown misses two point layup
1:46
DJ Burns offensive rebound
1:44
+2
DJ Burns makes two point tip shot
25-32
1:35
+2
Kassim Nicholson makes two point hook shot (Carlos Marshall Jr. assists)
25-34
1:12
Kassim Nicholson personal foul (DJ Burns draws the foul)
1:12
+1
DJ Burns makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-34
1:12
+1
DJ Burns makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-34
0:53
+2
Kenny Cooper makes two point jump shot
27-36
0:20
+2
KJ Williams makes two point layup (Nicholas McMullen assists)
29-36
0:02
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:00
Racers defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MURR
Racers
44
TNST
Tigers
26
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:44
Kenny Cooper misses two point layup
19:42
KJ Williams defensive rebound
19:37
Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
19:35
Kenny Cooper defensive rebound
19:08
Kenny Cooper misses three point jump shot
19:06
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
18:50
+2
KJ Williams makes two point layup (Carter Collins assists)
31-36
18:50
Kassim Nicholson shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
18:50
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1
32-36
18:34
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses two point floating jump shot
18:32
Tigers offensive rebound
18:18
Justice Hill personal foul (Emmanuel Dowuona draws the foul)
18:05
+2
Carlos Marshall Jr. makes two point driving layup
32-38
17:45
KJ Williams misses two point layup
17:43
DJ Burns offensive rebound
17:45
Kassim Nicholson shooting foul (DJ Burns draws the foul)
17:45
DJ Burns misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:45
+1
DJ Burns makes regular free throw 2 of 2
33-38
17:16
Emmanuel Dowuona turnover (double dribble)
17:01
Jalen Dupree blocks KJ Williams's two point layup
16:59
Carlos Marshall Jr. defensive rebound
16:33
Kenny Cooper misses three point jump shot
16:31
Jalen Dupree offensive rebound
16:26
+2
Jalen Dupree makes two point turnaround hook shot
33-40
16:13
+3
KJ Williams makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists)
36-40
15:54
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses two point floating jump shot
15:52
Tevin Brown defensive rebound
15:46
+3
KJ Williams makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)
39-40
15:45
Jalen Dupree shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
15:45
TV timeout
15:45
KJ Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:45
Kassim Nicholson defensive rebound
15:30
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Justice Hill steals)
15:24
Shakem Johnson blocks KJ Williams's two point dunk
15:22
Racers offensive rebound
15:08
DJ Burns turnover (bad pass) (Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. steals)
15:03
+2
Shakem Johnson makes two point dunk (Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. assists)
39-42
14:45
+2
KJ Williams makes two point layup (Tevin Brown assists)
41-42
14:16
+2
Kassim Nicholson makes two point dunk (Shakem Johnson assists)
41-44
13:51
KJ Williams misses two point turnaround jump shot
13:49
Racers offensive rebound
13:44
Justice Hill misses two point layup
13:42
DJ Burns offensive rebound
13:36
+2
Justice Hill makes two point layup (DJ Burns assists)
43-44
13:24
KJ Williams personal foul
13:05
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot
13:03
Racers defensive rebound
12:50
Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
12:48
Trae Hannibal offensive rebound
12:43
+3
Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists)
46-44
12:15
+3
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kenny Cooper assists)
46-47
12:13
Tigers 30 second timeout
12:13
TV timeout
12:02
+2
KJ Williams makes two point layup (Tevin Brown assists)
48-47
11:43
Tajik Bartholomew misses two point layup
11:41
DJ Burns defensive rebound
11:37
+2
KJ Williams makes two point layup (Justice Hill assists)
50-47
11:37
Shakem Johnson shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
11:37
TV timeout
11:37
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1
51-47
11:25
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Tevin Brown steals)
11:19
Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
11:17
Tajik Bartholomew defensive rebound
11:11
+2
Kassim Nicholson makes two point layup (Shakem Johnson assists)
51-49
10:53
DJ Burns turnover (bad pass)
10:29
Tajik Bartholomew misses three point jump shot
10:27
KJ Williams defensive rebound
10:02
+3
Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (DJ Burns assists)
54-49
9:32
Dedric Boyd misses three point jump shot
9:30
KJ Williams defensive rebound
9:03
+2
KJ Williams makes two point jump shot
56-49
8:37
Kassim Nicholson misses two point jump shot
8:35
Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
8:19
+2
KJ Williams makes two point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)
58-49
8:02
Carlos Marshall Jr. misses three point step back jump shot
8:00
Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
7:33
Emmanuel Dowuona blocks Trae Hannibal's two point layup
7:32
Racers offensive rebound
7:32
TV timeout
7:32
Emmanuel Dowuona shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
7:32
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2
59-49
7:32
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
60-49
7:17
Emmanuel Dowuona offensive foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
7:17
Emmanuel Dowuona turnover
6:49
+2
KJ Williams makes two point layup
62-49
6:31
KJ Williams personal foul (Emmanuel Dowuona draws the foul)
6:25
Carlos Marshall Jr. turnover (bad pass) (KJ Williams steals)
5:59
Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
5:57
Tigers defensive rebound
5:42
Kassim Nicholson misses three point jump shot
5:40
Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
5:20
Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
5:18
Kenny Cooper defensive rebound
5:10
+2
Kenny Cooper makes two point driving layup
62-51
4:54
Shakem Johnson personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
4:54
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2
63-51
4:54
KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:54
Shakem Johnson defensive rebound
4:33
KJ Williams blocks Shakem Johnson's two point jump shot
4:33
Carlos Marshall Jr. offensive rebound
4:33
+2
Carlos Marshall Jr. makes two point layup
63-53
4:33
Carter Collins shooting foul (Carlos Marshall Jr. draws the foul)
4:33
+1
Carlos Marshall Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
63-54
4:26
+2
KJ Williams makes two point alley-oop dunk (Justice Hill assists)
65-54
4:07
+2
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. makes two point floating jump shot
65-56
4:07
Justice Hill shooting foul (Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. draws the foul)
4:07
+1
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
65-57
3:39
Justice Hill misses two point jump shot
3:37
DJ Burns offensive rebound
3:20
+2
KJ Williams makes two point turnaround jump shot (Justice Hill assists)
67-57
3:09
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:07
Justice Hill defensive rebound
2:42
Shakem Johnson shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
2:42
TV timeout
2:42
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2
68-57
2:42
+1
KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
69-57
2:21
+3
Carlos Marshall Jr. makes three point step back jump shot (Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. assists)
69-60
2:19
Tigers 30 second timeout
2:06
+2
Justice Hill makes two point finger roll layup
71-60
1:45
DJ Burns personal foul (Carlos Marshall Jr. draws the foul)
1:38
Kenny Cooper misses three point step back jump shot
1:36
KJ Williams defensive rebound
1:09
KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
1:07
Kassim Nicholson defensive rebound
0:58
+2
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. makes two point layup
71-62
0:46
+2
Justice Hill makes two point layup
73-62
0:46
Racers 30 second timeout
0:32
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses three point jump shot
