Photo: Tab Brockman
The Murray State Racers dropped a 93-58 defeat at the Challenge In Music City Saturday to the Valparaiso Crusaders in Nashville, Tennessee at Municipal Auditorium.
MSU (2-4) finishes their stay at the CIMC Sunday when they face the Drake Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. The first game of the final day tips at 1 p.m. with the Crusaders (6-1) against Portland.
Jeffery Moss led MSU with 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, while Cameron Payne added 11 points and three assists. Jonathan Fairell led MSU on the boards with seven rebounds.
In the first half, MSU trailed 26-20 at the 7:30 mark when they responded with a run of their own to take a 30-28 lead at 5:02. MSU’s 10-2 run was keyed by a Wayne Langston hook shot and a pair of baskets from Moss. MSU took their only lead of the game with 5:02 left on a Moss floater. However, the Crusaders ended the half on a 21-11 run and a 43-37 lead,
Things got worse for the Racers when Valparaiso started the second half with a 12-3 run.
MSU cut the Valpo lead to 15 on a bucket by Jarvis Williams at the 13:38 mark, but never got any closer.
The Racers stayed with the hot-shooting Valpo in the first half going 13-of-28 for 46 percent. But in the second half the Racers cooled to 36 percent on 20-of-55 shots, while Valpo stayed hot at 70 percent on 17-of-24 shots.
The Racers and Crusaders have met in three straight seasons. Valparaiso won at MSU in 2012 and on their home court in 2013 before today’s neutral court game.
After Sunday’s game, the Racers return to the CFSB Center Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against Bethel.
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