No. 19 Murray St tops Belmont for OVC regular-season title
MURRAY, Ky. (AP) Forward KJ Williams had 30 points on 12-for-19 shooting and added five rebounds, and No. 19 Murray State claimed the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title with a 76-43 win over Belmont on Thursday night.
The Racers (27-2, 17-0) have won 17 straight games.
Murray State coach Matt McMahon won his 150th career game, all with the Racers.
''We're just going to do what we do,'' McMahon said. ''It wasn't a high offensive rebounding game for either team. But we were able to, I thought, force a lot of contested shots late in the clock. I thought we were very active and aggressive defensively, and we were able to convert that in some transition.
''The 19-0 (fastbreak points advantage) is a very telling stat. They're one of the best transition teams in all of college basketball. Ben Sheppard is probably the fastest guard in America, running the wing and attacking the basket. So I think that always has to be an emphasis when you play an offense that averages 81 points a game. To get back, and try to get your defense set. To hold them to 43, a team that averages 81, is really a credit to our players and their defensive effort - but also their attention to detail and focus.''
Belmont (24-6, 14-3) had its 10-game winning streak halted after being limited to 32.1% shooting from the floor, 19.2% from beyond the arc and getting outrebounded 40-22.
In the final regular-season meeting before both teams join the Missouri Valley Conference this summer, Williams was one of nine Racers to score.
Tevin Brown added 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Justice Hill had eight points, seven assists and four rebounds and DJ Burns had four points and nine rebounds. Trae Hannibal finished with seven rebounds, six assists and four points.
Freshman Will Richard was the only Belmont player to reach double figures, scoring 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. Grayson Murphy, Ben Sheppard and Nick Muszynski each had eight points.
Brown and Williams combined to score the Racers' first 18 points and Murray State jumped out to a 20-13 lead.
''It's kind of who they are,'' McMahon added. ''They perform at that level every night. That's why they're so good. They did a good job adjusting to the zone Belmont started out in. Thought our guys did a good job finding Tevin, and he shot the ball with great confidence. KJ did as well from three.
''Then (KJ) really did a good job sometimes against the zone. For example, on Saturday (against UT Martin), we struggled to score from two-point range against Martin's zone that was really packed in and tight. We shot 34% from two there, which is pathetic. And tonight, I thought we still got the ball inside to KJ against the zone, and he was able to score it. Put some more pressure on the zone, and did a much better job attacking that we did on Saturday (against Martin).''
Belmont closed within three points before the Racers closed the first half on a 19-4 run for a 35-17 halftime lead.
Murray State's defense held the Bruins to 7-for-27 shooting from the field and 1 for 12 from long distance in the first half.
That defensive effort continued into the second half, as the Racers stretched their lead to 66-33.
STATS OF THE NIGHT
Murray State won second-chance points 11-4, points off turnovers 15-8 and finished with 17 assists on 31 made baskets.
BIG PICTURE
Murray State: The Racers pick up a quality Quad 1 win for their NET standings, and stayed within the Top 25 of KenPom rankings. A conference tournament championship is the goal, but the resume remains strong for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Belmont: The Bruins scored their fewest points of this season. Their previous low was 53 points in a Nov. 22, 2021, loss at LSU.
UP NEXT
Belmont: Host Tennessee State on Saturday.
Murray State: At Southeast Missouri on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Nick Muszynski vs. KJ Williams (Ben Sheppard gains possession) | |||
19:48 | +2 | Grayson Murphy makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
19:28 | Will Richard blocks DJ Burns's two point layup | |||
19:26 | Racers offensive rebound | |||
19:18 | Justice Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
19:16 | DJ Burns offensive rebound | |||
19:15 | Will Richard personal foul | |||
19:12 | +3 | Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists) | 2-3 | |
18:38 | Bruins turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
18:17 | Carter Collins turnover (lost ball) (Grayson Murphy steals) | |||
18:10 | Carter Collins blocks Grayson Murphy's two point layup | |||
18:08 | Justice Hill defensive rebound | |||
17:42 | Carter Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
17:42 | Racers offensive rebound | |||
17:42 | Racers turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
17:21 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
17:19 | Tevin Brown defensive rebound | |||
17:04 | +3 | Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists) | 2-6 | |
16:57 | +2 | Grayson Murphy makes two point layup (Nick Muszynski assists) | 4-6 | |
16:33 | DJ Burns offensive foul | |||
16:33 | DJ Burns turnover | |||
16:25 | Ben Sheppard misses two point layup | |||
16:23 | DJ Burns defensive rebound | |||
16:02 | KJ Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
16:00 | Ben Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
15:39 | Carter Collins shooting foul (Ben Sheppard draws the foul) | |||
15:39 | TV timeout | |||
15:39 | +1 | Ben Sheppard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-6 | |
15:39 | +1 | Ben Sheppard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-6 | |
15:18 | +3 | Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists) | 6-9 | |
14:47 | Jump ball. Even Brauns vs. KJ Williams (Racers gains possession) | |||
14:47 | Even Brauns turnover (lost ball) (KJ Williams steals) | |||
14:33 | +3 | KJ Williams makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists) | 6-12 | |
14:07 | +2 | Even Brauns makes two point layup (Grayson Murphy assists) | 8-12 | |
13:44 | +2 | KJ Williams makes two point layup | 8-14 | |
13:19 | DJ Burns blocks Even Brauns's two point layup | |||
13:17 | Even Brauns offensive rebound | |||
13:10 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
13:08 | DJ Burns defensive rebound | |||
12:45 | Justice Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
12:43 | Grayson Murphy defensive rebound | |||
12:36 | Ben Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
12:34 | Will Richard offensive rebound | |||
12:26 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
12:24 | Tevin Brown defensive rebound | |||
12:05 | Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
12:03 | Grayson Murphy defensive rebound | |||
11:54 | Jacobi Wood misses three point jump shot | |||
11:52 | Tevin Brown defensive rebound | |||
11:47 | TV timeout | |||
11:34 | Trae Hannibal turnover (bad pass) (Ben Sheppard steals) | |||
11:23 | Tevin Brown blocks Ben Sheppard's two point layup | |||
11:21 | Trae Hannibal defensive rebound | |||
11:14 | Trae Hannibal misses two point layup | |||
11:12 | Bruins defensive rebound | |||
11:01 | Nick Muszynski misses two point layup | |||
10:59 | Nicholas McMullen defensive rebound | |||
10:45 | +2 | Tevin Brown makes two point jump shot | 8-16 | |
10:26 | +2 | Nick Muszynski makes two point layup | 10-16 | |
9:56 | Nicholas McMullen turnover (bad pass) | |||
9:42 | Luke Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
9:40 | Tevin Brown defensive rebound | |||
9:32 | Trae Hannibal misses two point layup | |||
9:30 | Nick Muszynski defensive rebound | |||
9:19 | DaQuan Smith personal foul | |||
9:14 | Jacobi Wood misses three point jump shot | |||
9:12 | Tevin Brown defensive rebound | |||
9:00 | Justice Hill turnover (bad pass) (Jacobi Wood steals) | |||
8:40 | Nick Muszynski misses two point layup | |||
8:38 | KJ Williams defensive rebound | |||
8:31 | Luke Smith personal foul | |||
8:27 | KJ Williams misses two point layup | |||
8:25 | Tate Pierson defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | +3 | Ben Sheppard makes three point jump shot (Luke Smith assists) | 13-16 | |
7:45 | Tevin Brown misses two point layup | |||
7:43 | Tate Pierson defensive rebound | |||
7:40 | KJ Williams personal foul | |||
7:40 | TV timeout | |||
7:38 | Tate Pierson turnover (bad pass) (Tevin Brown steals) | |||
7:38 | Tevin Brown turnover (traveling) | |||
7:24 | Luke Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
7:22 | DJ Burns defensive rebound | |||
7:00 | Justice Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
6:58 | Bruins defensive rebound | |||
6:31 | Ben Sheppard misses two point layup | |||
6:29 | Tevin Brown defensive rebound | |||
6:14 | +2 | Tevin Brown makes two point layup | 13-18 | |
5:52 | Ben Sheppard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:50 | KJ Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:43 | Jacobi Wood personal foul | |||
5:34 | +2 | DaQuan Smith makes two point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists) | 13-20 | |
5:14 | Nick Muszynski turnover (lost ball) (Trae Hannibal steals) | |||
5:07 | Trae Hannibal turnover (bad pass) (Grayson Murphy steals) | |||
4:59 | +2 | Grayson Murphy makes two point layup | 15-20 | |
4:47 | Grayson Murphy shooting foul (DJ Burns draws the foul) | |||
4:47 | +1 | DJ Burns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-21 | |
4:47 | +1 | DJ Burns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-22 | |
4:25 | Tate Pierson turnover (bad pass) (DaQuan Smith steals) | |||
4:20 | +2 | DaQuan Smith makes two point layup | 15-24 | |
3:53 | Grayson Murphy misses two point jump shot | |||
3:51 | DJ Burns defensive rebound | |||
3:34 | +2 | Trae Hannibal makes two point layup | 15-26 | |
3:07 | Jacobi Wood misses three point jump shot | |||
3:05 | Racers defensive rebound | |||
3:02 | TV timeout | |||
2:48 | +3 | KJ Williams makes three point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists) | 15-29 | |
2:34 | DaQuan Smith personal foul | |||
2:33 | Luke Smith offensive foul | |||
2:33 | Luke Smith turnover | |||
2:14 | KJ Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
2:12 | Ben Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
2:07 | Trae Hannibal blocks Ben Sheppard's two point dunk | |||
2:05 | Will Richard offensive rebound | |||
1:57 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point layup | 17-29 | |
1:41 | +2 | Justice Hill makes two point jump shot | 17-31 | |
1:28 | Nick Muszynski turnover (lost ball) (DJ Burns steals) | |||
1:20 | +2 | KJ Williams makes two point dunk (Trae Hannibal assists) | 17-33 | |
1:17 | Bruins 30 second timeout | |||
0:50 | Grayson Murphy misses three point jump shot | |||
0:48 | Justice Hill defensive rebound | |||
0:40 | +2 | Trae Hannibal makes two point layup (Justice Hill assists) | 17-35 | |
0:39 | Racers 30 second timeout | |||
0:20 | DJ Burns personal foul | |||
0:03 | Grayson Murphy misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Trae Hannibal defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |