BOX SCORE

Final Score: Tennessee State 64, Murray State 76
Records: TSU (12-9, 4-4), MSU (15-5, 8-0)
Location: Murray, Ky. 
Venue: CFSB Center
Attendance: 4,925

MURRAY, Ky. --- The Tennessee State men's basketball team failed to maintain the, eight point, 10 minute lead against the Ohio Valley Conference co-leaders Murray State, falling to the Racers on the road, 76-64.

The Tigers silenced the CFSB Center as it went on a 12-0 run to create a harrowing situation for the 2019 NCAA Tournament team. 

Michael Littlejohn and Carlos Marshall Jr. led Big Blue with 15 points a piece, adding a combined seven assists, six steals and four rebounds. 

Five Racers scored in double-digits, led by point guard Tevin Brown who went 6-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the chairty stripe. 

TSU is now 4-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while MSU remains undefeated in the league after eight games. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU Leaders
  • Points: Michael Littlejohn/Carlos Marshall Jr - 15
  • Rebounds: Shakem Johnson/Emmenuel Egbuta/Jon Brown - 4
  • Assists: Michael Littlejohn - 5
  • Steals:Michael Littlejohn - 5
  • Blocks: Jon Brown/Shakem Johnson - 1
• TSU led by as much as eight after a 12-0 run, holding the lead for 9:58 of the first half. 
• Big Blue was more accurate from the floor (25-of-49) and from three-point distance (6-of-12). 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Murray took possession after jump ball, scoring on first possession. Carlos Marhsall drove to the net, missing his first shot, but a turnover on the opposite end allowing the guard to drive again and score, marking the first two points for TSU.
• MSU answered with its own 7-0 run, forcing a Tiger timeout. 
• The Tigers followed with its own 10-0 run over 4 minutes to lead 12-9. Shakem Johnson hit two consecutive baskets, followed by Marshall powering through a defender for a layup and topped off with Johnson going to work under the goal for two. 
• TSU began making a noticable difference on tdefense beating MSU on the boards 12-6 helping MSU to a 7 minute drought. 
• Littlejohn knoxked down 10 points in two minutes alone, 22-14 Tigers.
• MSU worked to tie the game at 22 with five minutes left on the clock, 
• Emmanuel Egbuta accounted for the final fiive points for Big Blue, made at the charity stripe within the last 4:43 of the half. Murray State led 32-29.
• A Racer three, with a foul created a our-point play to kick off the period. 
• Big Blue scored six before MSU hit every spot on the floor to create an 11-0 run and a 14-point lead. 
• Marshall and Littlejohn scored two-consecutive three-point shots to move it within nine, 68-59
• Murray closed the night going hard in the paint, 76-64. 

GAME NOTES

• The Racers lead the all-time series against TSU, 56-17.
• Big Blue is on a four-game losing streak with a 100-62 loss in 2019, and a 76-57 loss in 2018.
• When taking on the Racers in Murray, the Tigers are 6-32 in the all-time series.
• TSU is 1-5 in the last five seasons versus Murray State, with just one win at home.
• Brian Collins is now 0-2 against the Racers. 

#BigBlueRising