Racer Basketball A special publication of The Murray State News
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November 3, 2016
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Nov 3 Berry (Exh.) 7 p.m. Nov 11 Illinois State 7 p.m. Nov 15 Middle Tennessee 6:30 p.m. BGSU BILL FRACK TOURNAMENT Nov 19 Green Bay 6 p.m. Nov 20 UMKC 3 p.m. Nov 21 Bowling Green 6 p.m Nov 26 Alabama A&M 7 p.m. Nov 29 Southern Illinois 7 p.m. Dec 3 Detroit 7 p.m. Dec 10 Evansville 3 p.m. Dec 12 Bethel 7 p.m. Dec 15 Ole Miss 7 p.m. Dec 17 South Dakota State 4 p.m. Dec 22 Wright State 7 p.m. Dec 29 Brescia 7 p.m. *Dec 31 Tennessee State 11 a.m. *Jan 5 Jacksonville State 7:30 p.m. *Jan 7 Tennessee Tech 7:30 p.m. *Jan 12 Eastern Illinois 7 p.m. *Jan 14 SIUE 7 p.m. *Jan 19 Eastern Kentucky 7 p.m *Jan 21 Austin Peay 6:30 p.m. *Jan 26 Southeast Missouri 7 p.m. *Jan 28 UT Martin 7 p.m. *Feb 2 Belmont 8 p.m. *Feb 8 Morehead State 6 p.m. *Feb 11 Austin Peay 7 p.m. *Feb 16 SIUE 6 p.m. *Feb 18 Eastern Illinois 7 p.m. *Feb 23 Southeast Missouri 6:30 p.m. *Feb 25 UT Martin 6 p.m. OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
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WOMEN’S Nov 11 Eureka 5 p.m. Nov 14 Alabama A&M 6 p.m. Nov 17 Southern Illinois 6 p.m. Nov 20 UNC Greensboro 2 p.m. Nov 22 Lipscomb 6 p.m. Nov 26 Ohio 1 p.m. Nov 28 East Tennessee State 7 p.m. Dec 4 Evansville 2 p.m. Dec 10 Northern Kentucky Noon Dec 12 MacMurray 5 p.m. WICHITA STATE TOURNAMENT Dec 16 Incarnate Word 4 p.m. Dec 17 Abilene Christian 11 a.m. Dec 21 Miss. Valley State 2 p.m. *Dec 31 Tennessee State 1 p.m. *Jan 5 Jacksonville State 5:30 p.m. *Jan 7 Tennessee Tech 5:30 p.m. *Jan 11 Eastern Illinois 1 p.m. *Jan 15 SIUE Noon *Jan 21 Austin Peay 4 p.m. *Jan 25 Southeast Missouri 6:30 p.m. *Jan 28 UT Martin 5 p.m. *Feb 1 Morehead State TBA *Feb 4 Belmont 6 p.m. *Feb 6 Eastern Kentucky 6 p.m. *Feb 11 Austin Peay 5 p.m. *Feb 15 Eastern Illinois 6 p.m. *Feb 18 SIUE 5 p.m. *Feb 22 Southeast Missouri 6 p.m. *Feb 25 UT Martin 4 p.m. OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT Mar 1-4 Nashville, TN
The News
November 3, 2016
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The News
November 3, 2016
Best in the West Preseason poll puts Racers first in OVC West Collin Morris
Contributing writer cmorris20@murraystate.edu
The Murray State men’s basketball team can be found almost daily at the elongated tables of Winslow Dining Hall as part of the team’s concerted effort toward establishing a new culture. The 2016-2017 men’s team epitomizes the often heard “newlook” moniker, as the new-look Racers tout a roster with only five returning players in Bryce Jones, senior guard from Brooklyn, New York, Gee McGhee, senior guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Damarcus Croaker, senior guard from Orlando, Florida, Jonathan Stark, junior guard from Munford, Tennessee and Brion Sanchious, sophomore forward from Pompano Beach, Florida. Jones, who has garnered Preseason AllOVC Team honors, said team
building has been a pillar of their preparation. “[Having so many new players] plays a big role in our team,” Jones said. “We knew we only had a few guys coming back so every day we try to hang out with each other more. We do team-oriented things like go out to the movies or I’ll have the young guys come over and play [video] games. Things like that speed up the process.” Those returnees will be joined by seven other players – comprised of transfer and freshmen players – and will be led by second-year Head Coach Matt McMahon. The 2015-16 season marked McMahon’s first official season as a head coach. After succeeding current Iowa State Head Coach Steve Prohm, McMahon led the Racers to their 29th consecutive winning season with a 17-14 record and is now looking to
continue that streak with a fresh play style. “Ultimately, I think the job of the coach is to put the players in the best position to be successful,” McMahon said. “I would like to see our offense evolve into a more up-tempo attack, whereas last year we were more of a half court, set play oriented team. I’d like to see our defense be more aggressive and take more calculated risks, where last year we were more conservative at that end of the floor.” McMahon later clarified the Racers will not be facilitating a purely run-and-gun offense, but simply increasing the team’s pace in comparison to last season. The Racers ranked 9th in OVC points per game and 216th in the country. In addition to their individual honors, the team was also recently voted the predicted first-place finisher in the OVC West by a
panel of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. The Racers won that vote by a margin of 36 points, scoring 131, followed by Eastern Illinois with 95 and Austin Peay State with 88. With such a young, unfamiliar lineup, McMahon said he is looking forward to experimenting with all available combinations. “For us, playing the bigger lineup with a combination of Brion [Sanchious], Terrell [Miller] and Jalen [Dupree], three guys at 6’8” and 245 [pounds] and change up front, and the two point guard lineup with Bryce and Starks, and then just mixing in returners with newcomers – letting them get to play together some and just build on the chemistry,” McMahon said. The Racers will begin their season with an exhibition game at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at the CFSB Center against the Vikings of Berry College.
The News
November 3, 2016
2016-17 Conference preview Tyler Dixon
Graduate Assistant
ndixon1@murraystate.edu
Coming off of their 2015-16 OVC regular season title, the Belmont Bruins picked up 16 of 24 first-place votes to be chosen as the preseason conference favorite. Tennessee State earned six firstplace votes while Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky each had one. Along with being the conference favorite, Belmont was picked to win the Eastern Division of the OVC while the Murray State Racers were picked to win the West ahead of Eastern Illinois. Belmont’s Evan Bradds was the Preseason OVC Player of the Year after his junior season when he led the country in field-goal percentage at 71.4 per-
Basketball
cent to go along with 17.6 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game. Belmont Head Coach Rick Byrd said not only is Bradds fun to watch, but he’s fun to coach as well. “Evan, maybe more than any other player we’ve ever had at Belmont, has this gift, this knack for scoring the basketball inside,” he said. Bradds wasn’t the only Bruin to make the preseason squad as teammate Taylor Barnette was also chosen after hitting 74 3-pointers last season and averaging 10.6 points per game. Byrd said he can’t be specific about who on the team it helps when other teams key in on Bradds because the entire team will benefit. “It opens up everybody else’s game,” he said. “We’re going to have four shooters around Evan all the time when he’s in the game. However they choose to try and stop him and if they can’t do it one-on-one, that’s the whole idea, then I think we could make them pay.” The Tigers of Tennessee State had the second highest number of firstplace votes and third-year coach Dana Ford said they look to rebound after last year’s defeat in the OVC Tournament Quarterfinals against Austin Peay State. “I think we’re just trying to build on last year’s momentum,” he said. “Trying to get better every day.” Ford said it’s important to be consistent, but his mindset hasn’t changed too
much from last season. “It’s really the same goal, it’s just more realistic on the outside than it’s been in the past,” he said. Tennessee State had two players on the preseason team: Wayne Martin and Tahjere McCall. McCall averaged 14.6 points per game last season while Martin shot nearly 50 percent from the field with 9.9 rebounds per contest. Ford said having two players on the preseason team is nice, but the work still needs to be done on the court. “It helps them from a confidence standpoint to see their game is appreciated from coaches and members of the media, but it really doesn’t mean a whole lot, it’s a prediction,” he said. “We’ve got to go out and execute that and live up to the hype.” Morehead State was picked third in the OVC East but led the league in total wins last season with 23. Head Coach Sean Woods said he wants people to see them clicking on all cylinders when it comes to postseason play. “We want to be there in the end, but our main thing is being healthy going into the OVC Tournament,” he said. “Something we haven’t been in the last couple years.” Senior guard Xavier Moon returns to the Eagles after averaging 10.2 points per game and 2.6 assists per game last season.
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Woods said it’s Moon’s team now and he has the experience to help the team going forward. “Experience is the key to anything,” he said. “Anytime you have some type of success, it helps you across the board.” Eastern Kentucky was the only other squad to earn a first-place vote in the preseason rankings. The Colonels return sophomore Nick Mayo who averaged 14.5 points per game last season and was named the OVC Newcomer of the Year. “We’re extremely young,” Head Coach Dan McHale said. “I got five freshmen, eight newcomers. I have to be able to not make youth an excuse but also understand my two best players are a freshman and sophomore. We’re going to grow around them and really development this team.” McHale said his team lost six games last season that were decided in the last minute, but he’s excited for the future of his squad. “The foundation is set,” he said. “I wish I could wave a magic wand and say we’ll be at the top of the league this year, but I don’t know. We have a chance, but I don’t know what’s going to happen.” The conference season is still a month away, but teams are preparing for their first regular-season matchup next week.
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Basketball
November 3, 2016
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2016 How this year’s Racers are raising the stakes and putting up a fight
Sarah Combs Sports Editor
scombs@murraystate.edu
The Murray State women’s basketball team will take the floor next Friday against Eureka in the CFSB center. The roster won’t change very much this year for the Racers, gaining four players and returning all five starters from the end of last season. The team’s growth, however, will play a big factor in their court presence this year. Head Coach Rob Cross mentioned at OVC basketball media day that his team has developed a player coached team mentality. “I really believe it’s going to pay huge dividends. They’re talking, I blow the whistle and we have a player talking immediately saying the exact same thing I was going to say,” Cross said. “Just excited about the growth and learning potential for the team.” The team lines up both offensive and defensively present players. They have players who can shoot the ball and they have players who can pull the ball off the rim. A kind of ‘throw it
up, we have players who can go get it’ kind of mentality. They also have that range of athleticism and optionality to rely on several players if the situation calls for it. “It’s not going to be a team where you’re going to be able to key out one player,” Cross said. “If KJ didn’t score last year, we were in trouble as a team. That will not be the case this year.” Jasmine Borders stepped up for the Racers toward the end of the 2015-16 year. When teams decided to lockdown KJ and take her out of the game, Borders killed their efforts by picking up the slack and becoming a scoring option by attacking the basket, pulling the three and being a defensive presence on the other end of the floor. “She’s an outstanding shooter but one of the things that made her better and made our team better was she became a better defender,” Cross said. “And she started attacking the basket and using her athleticism.” Guarding James is a nightmare for defenders. Not only has she developed and nurtured her streaky arc game, drawing out the defense, but
she can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket when she decides to. Cross mentioned James’ struggle at the free-throw line and mentioned former Racer Ashley Hayes’ expansion of her game. If James can expand her game to feel comfortable at the free-throw line, then there won’t be anything or anyone that will phase her game this year, according to Cross. “She’s a much better three point shooter now than she was a year ago so that makes her tough to guard because she’s so athletic,” Cross said. “If KJ is able to do that [improve free throw percentage], then she’s really virtually an un-guardable player.” With five players extending over 6’ including Kyra Gulledge, Taylor Reese, Katie Mackenzie and Jessica Richards, the Racers look forward to having post presence. Along with their height, the team has length. Combining those two things could cause trouble for teams this year, making it tough to see around long arms and even harder to want to visit big bodies in the paint.
The News
November 3, 2016
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From team player to team leader Tierra Reese || Staff writer treese1@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s women’s basketball team hired a new assistant coach, Keiona Kirby, alumna player for the Racers. Kirby, graduate student from Jackson, Tennessee, has a degree in outdoor and community recreation and decided after her four collegiate years playing basketball at Murray State, coaching is what she wants to do with her life. After spending last year’s season as a graduate assistant, Kirby and Head Coach Rob Cross, thought a more permanent position would suit her better. “I really wanted to stay close to Murray State because they helped me earn a full scholarship and so I wanted to start my career here,” Kirby said. “I love coaching, I think it’s a part of me. I just wanted to help.” Kirby’s position throughout her collegiate career was a guard so she focuses primarily with the guards to give them coaching advice
from her past experience. “Since I did play as a guard, whatever they need I try to help them with whatever I can,” Kirby said. “I try to give them little techniques.” Kirby is the only female coach for the women’s team, and although there are players she used to play with still on the team, the players still show her the same respect as any other coach. “They respect me, they don’t try to talk back to me or anything. We have a close relationship seeing that I’m the only female coach,” Kirby said. “They can come to me and talk about things that they can’t talk about with the men.” Kirby’s relationship with the players isn’t the only thing that needs to be positive. Her relationship with her fellow coaches is also a key factor into a good sports team. Kirby said her relationships with Cross, Aubrey Reese and Tony Cross are good. “We talk in the offices everyday and go out to eat sometimes,” Kirby said. “We have a good
relationship.” Although Kirby is not playing on the court anymore, that is not stopping her family from attending her games and supporting her as a coach for Murray State. “They always support me,” she said. “My family is always there for me even if I’m not playing, they are still going to be here for me.” Instead of making sure she scores goals this season, Kirby said her goal this year is to help the Racers on and off the court become better. “I want to help them become better people, better women on and off of the court,” Kirby said. “I want us to fight for the OVC Championship but also to have a good attitude and sportsmanship. I want to be a good example for them to look up to.” Kirby said she is excited to be in this position at such a young age and credits God for her success. The women’s basketball team has their first conference game at 5 p.m. Nov. 11 against Eureka College at the CFSB center.
The News
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November 3, 2016
Clayton welcomed as new PA announcer Quinnen Taylor
Contributing writer qtaylor@murraystate.edu
As Racer Mania featured the early sneak preview of the Murray State basketball teams, it also welcomed the newest member of the crew, Public Address Announcer: Aaron Clayton. Clayton has been involved with radio since 2007 and began working for Freeland Broadcasting, a network that encompasses WCBL Radio in Benton, Kentucky, and WCCK Radio in Calvert City, Kentucky. He currently broadcasts Marshall County and Lyon County sports games, DJs in the afternoon on 99.1 FM and conducts live remote broadcasts all around the lakes area. Aside from broadcasting, Clayton said he got his start as a PA announcer at a local high school. “I started in PA announcing while I was still at Calloway County High School in 2006, announcing boys and girls basketball
“
It gives me great pride to return to my alma mater to continue a great legacy. - Aaron Clayton, new public address announcer
”
games and it blossomed from there,” Clayton said. “I have announced at various basketball, baseball, soccer, football and volleyball events that have ranged from high school to college to community-oriented fundraising events. While also doing radio for Lyon and Marshall counties, I have filled in at times as PA announcer for those respective schools.” In 2011, he graduated from Murray State with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications and Political Science. Being a graduate of Murray State and returning as the PA announcer for the basketball games, he said he’s taken appreciation in being a part of the tradition. “It gives me great pride to return to my alma mater to continue a great legacy as one of the many ‘Voices of the Racers,’” Clayton said. “Basketball especially has been a big part of my life as I have attended hundreds of Murray State games home and away for my entire 27-plus years on this earth.” With obtaining the PA position, Clayton acknowledged his Christian faith, parents, grandparents, close friends and coworkers as being his biggest influences. He also mentioned his employer, Jim Freeland, and sports director at WCBL Radio, Jeff Waters, as being “huge help” to him. “They provide constructive criticism, support, helpful tips and a vast knowledge in sports broadcasting that has spanned over 70 years combined,” Clayton said. He referenced other personnel in former PA announcer, Paul Radke, and radio broadcaster for the Racers, Neal Bradley, as key “inspirations” and
“mentors.” “Those two embody what it means to be a Racer,” Clayton said. “Their passion, drive and dedication to the athletic programs at Murray State over the years can never be Clayton matched. Besides being the best at what they do, they are both genuinely great human beings that anybody would be fortunate enough to know.” Bradley, one of Clayton’s inspirations, had admiration for the newest member to the Racer coalition. “Aaron is well known in the area and will be wonderful as the MSU PA announcer,” Bradley said. “He did a great job at Racer Mania and was willing to put a WWE spin on the event, which I loved. He has an excellent voice and his love of the Racers is evident.” With the 2016-17 Murray State basketball season reaching its inception, it will be a new chapter in Clayton’s life. He believes being a PA announcer presents him with getting to embrace the Racer experience. “I believe that the Racers not only have one of the greatest traditions in the OVC, but in all of the NCAA when it comes to putting a consistently great product on the hardwood or field of play year-in and year-out,” Clayton said.
Marty Offutt
www.picketfencemurray.com
Go Racers!
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November 3, 2016
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The News
Basketball
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November 3, 2016
OVC basketball breeds NBA talent Tyler Dixon
Graduate Assistant ndixon1@murraystate.edu
There are 32 NCAA D-I basketball conferences but only 24 of those conferences had players on the NBA’s opening night roster. The OVC is one of only 11 conferences with at least five players currently playing in the NBA and Murray State is the only team with multiple players. Murray State is tied with power six conference schools like Baylor, Clemson, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Oregon with only two players on NBA rosters. Former Racers Cameron Payne and Isaiah Canaan, Morehead State’s Kenneth Faried, Belmont’s Ian Clark and and Tennessee State’s Robert Covington are all representing the Ohio Valley
Conference at the next level. Payne is currently the backup point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder behind perennial all-star Russell Westbrook. Payne may be mostly known for his pregame dances with Westbrook but the second-year player averaged 5.0 points per game to go along with 1.9 assists per game in his rookie season. Canaan signed with the Chicago Bulls during the off-season after playing two seasons in Philadelphia with the 76ers. The former two-time OVC Player of the Year is averaging 5.5 points per game off of the bench for the Bulls. Canaan averaged 15.5 points per game during his career at Murray State and averaged 21.8 points per game during his senior season where he led the Racers
to a 21-10 record with wins over Auburn and St. John’s during the regular season. Murray State Head Coach Matt McMahon said Payne and Canaan aren’t only important to the men’s basketball program. “The university as a whole, both Isaiah and Cam have been great ambassadors for Murray State University, brought a lot of national attention not only to the basketball program but to the university itself,” he said. Faried was the 22nd pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and has averaged double-digit points each of his fives years in the league with his career high coming in his third season with 13.7 points per game. Morehead State head coach Sean Woods said
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Faried, like the other players from the OVC, are important for the conference. “It let’s people know around the country that it’s okay to play in the OVC,” he said. “You can still make your dreams come true playing in this league. It also tells people this league is one of the most underrated leagues in the county. You have to strap them up every night. I think people are starting to see that now.” Faried is also the NCAA’s all-time leading rebounder. Clark was signed by Utah as an undrafted free agent in 2013 but he led an illustrious college career. Clark was the OVC Co-Player of the Year in 2013 with Canaan and also grabbed OVC Defensive Player of the Year honors the same year. Prior to Belmont joining the OVC, they were members of the
Atlantic Sun where Clark was named freshman of the year in 2010. Clark played in 66 games for the Golden State Warriors last season and averaged 3.6 points per game off of the bench for the Western Conference champions. Covington is in his fourth year in the NBA and his third with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s started 49 games each of the last two seasons with an average of 13.5 points per game in his first year with the team. Faried is the only OVC player in the NBA that didn’t make his way through the NBA Developmental League. Former Austin Peay Governor Horton and former Eastern Kentucky Colonel Jarelle Reischel were each taken in Sunday’s NBA D-League Draft.
The News
Basketball
November 3, 2016
Page 11
Stark returns to the court
Blake Sandlin
Contributing writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
With Murray State’s men’s basketball season fast approaching, the Racers will finally get their first taste of action when they face Berry College in their first exhibition game of the season on Thursday. Junior guard Jonathan Stark, redshirted last season after transferring to Murray State from Tulane. Stark said he is impatient to get back on the court. “I can’t wait to get back on the court,” Stark said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played in an actual game so I’m ready to get back out there.” In his sophomore season at Tulane, member of the American Athletic Conference, Stark averaged 10.6 points per game and 4.4 assists per game. His freshman year, during the 20132014 season, Stark accu-
mulated Conference USA All-Freshman honors and was named a freshman AllAmerican in his first season with the Green Waves. Despite this being Stark’s first season to play for the Racers, he still feels like he has garnered a strong leadership role for this young Racer team. “I think a lot of the players and coaches respect me enough to give me the leadership role,” Stark said. “I think I lead by example. I think if I’m doing my part, then they will follow along with me.” After sitting out all of last season, Stark has watched his team’s progression over the past season and has seen the chemistry between his teammates grow over time. “We all have our own things we’re good at, but I think we connect well on the court,” Stark said. “I think the more we play with each other, the better
we will get.” Despite the young talent, the Racers will come into their season as the favorites in the OVC West, earning 21 first-place votes from head coaches and sports information directors around the league. Stark believes the strength of this year’s team comes from the well-rounded talent in the program. “We have good guards, good perimeter players, and we also are really talented down low,” Starks said. “We have guys that are physical down low, shooters and guards that can push the ball in transition.” Offense, however, is only part of the game. Stark said his team can hold their own on the offensive end but has to put their focus on being great on the defensive end of the floor. “I think we need
Sanchious finds sanctuary in Tyler Dixon
Graduate Assistant ndixon1@murraystate.edu Many athletes deal with
different situations throughout their careers, whether it be a tough upbringing or being plagued with an injury. For Brion Sanchious, it was both. Sanchious, sophomore from Pompano Beach, Florida, is a power forward for the Murray State Racers and is coming off a season-ending knee injury in January against the Belmont Bruins. Sanchious was recently cleared by the Murray State medical staff, but the road hasn’t always been paved with Murray State gold. Almost 40 miles north of Miami lies Pompano Beach, a city of more than 100,000 people. Sanchious said it was a hard life because of his neighborhood growing up. He said he didn’t know if the lights would be on or where he would get food but basketball, along with his friends, became Sanchious’ sanctuary.
“Basketball was always there for me,” he said. “I always had my friends to help me.” The Florida native stands at six feet eight inches tall and being bigger than most of his opponents throughout high school was a key component to his success on and off the court. “It was hard, but basketball was my way to let me get out, let me think,” he said. “It was my comfort zone.” Sanchious’ brother Bryce is only a year younger than him but he said it always helped to have someone next to him whenever things were tough. “It was important because that’s my brother at the end of the day,” Sanchious said. “I love him to death. It was a tough situation, we both had each others back through anything.” Despite his brother still living in Florida, he continues to do what he can to help his family. “I’m my brother’s keeper,” he said. “I always live by that.” Since his injury, Sanchious’ first steps in front of the Murray State
faithful was during the annual Racer Mania a couple weeks ago. He said the people of Murray have been important in him preparing to return to the court. “It was a great feeling to see the crowd again, to see everybody cheering me on, wishing me to come back sooner,” he said. “Praying for me to come back.” The night of Jan. 14 was difficult for Sanchious. He had started consecutive games leading up the Belmont contest and was coming off a career-high nine rebounds against Jacksonville State Jan. 9.
to get better defensively,” Stark said. “I think we have enough talent to get the ball in the basket, but I think we need to work on our defense.” Thursday’s game against Berry will be the Racers’ first exhibition game of the year before they officially open the season on Nov. 11 against Illinois State. The Racers lost their exhibition game last season again Freed-Hardeman University, and that loss has provided Stark with some added motivation this season. “Every time we get on the court, we’re going to go out there and give it our best shot,” Stark said. “So whoever our opponent is, we’re going to treat them like they’re the best team in the country.” The game against the Vikings of Berry College tips off at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the CFSB Center in Murray.
basketball He said he was hoping for good news but he knew the worse was a possibility when they returned to the hotel after the game. “That night was tough for me,” he said. “I really thought I could come back from it, just stretch it out.” Murray State welcomes Belmont Feb. 2 to the CFSB Center and the date is already circled on his calendar. “I’ve always been a defensive person so I’m looking forward that matchup,” he said. “Since I got hurt at that game, I’ll be looking forward to it the whole season. I’ll be trying to shut him down.” Sanchious said he isn’t concerned about pushing himself too far in games because he’s been preparing for the strain of the regular season. “I’d rather hold it back in practice than hold it back in a game,” he said. “I want to give it my all. I don’t think I should hold it back because I don’t want to take another day for granted.”
Photos by Jenny Rohl/The News
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November 3, 2016
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