INDIANAPOLIS — Video games like this require veteran management, which KJ Williams and others delivered for Murray State.
Williams scored six of his 18 factors in additional time after Murray State blew an eight-point lead late in regulation, and the seventh-seeded Racers prolonged their profitable streak to 21 video games with a 92-87 victory over San Francisco within the first spherical of the NCAA Match on Thursday night time.
“That recreation outlined our crew,” Murray State coach Matt McMahon stated. “That’s simply who they're. They discover methods to win. Their toughness and can to win is extremely particular. I’m happy with them for his or her combat. We battled some foul hassle. Battled some cramps. Totally different guys stepped up.”
The Racers (31-2) tied South Dakota State for the longest profitable streak within the nation this season. With SDSU’s loss to Windfall earlier Thursday, Murray State can edge forward in Saturday’s East Area second-round recreation in opposition to Saint Peter’s. The Fifteenth-seeded Peacocks toppled Kentucky 85-79 in OT.
The nightcap in Indianapolis was simply as tight, with 18 lead adjustments and 14 ties in a contest that ended early Friday morning. Murray State finally took management with Williams’ clutch baskets and Jordan Skipper-Brown’s well timed performs within the additional session.
Skipper-Brown specifically drew reward from McMahon and Williams.
“Skip got here a great distance along with his efficiency tonight, and it exhibits that he been engaged on and off the court docket,” Williams stated. “He simply confirmed that nice character tonight and simply got here out and performed tremendously.”
McMahon added, “Skipper-Brown, after we wanted him most, delivers a double-double.”
Jamaree Bouyea scored a career-high 36 factors for USF (24-10), which made its first NCAA look since 1998. The graduate guard made simply 4 of 12 from lengthy vary however was 13 of 26 general, with every make shifting momentum.
“Attempting to depart all of it on the market, no regrets,” Bouyea stated. “We wanted buckets and stops and I used to be attempting to place the ball within the basket.”
Zane Meeks added 13 factors and Patrick Tape 10 with three blocks for USF earlier than fouling out.
Williams made a go-ahead layup with 1:15 remaining earlier than Skipper-Brown’s layup made it 89-85 with 30 seconds left. Zane Meeks’ putback acquired USF inside a basket, however he missed a free throw. Skipper-Brown made two free throws with 13.7 seconds left earlier than including one other with 1.7 seconds remaining to seal the win.
The Racers led 73-65 with 1:58 remaining in regulation, however Khalil Shabazz made a 3-pointer and Bouyea adopted with 5 straight factors.
Trae Hannibal additionally had 18 factors for Murray State earlier than fouling out late in regulation. Brown added 17, Justice Hill scored 15 and Skipper-Brown had 12 factors and 10 rebounds, all of which the Racers wanted to intestine out their newest win.
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