TISHOMINGO, OKLAHOMA- The Murray State Aggies held off a late rally by the Arizona Western Matadors as the Aggies defeated the Matadors 84-80 Sunday afternoon at Beames Fieldhouse.
Dyson Plumley led the Aggies with 23 points shooting 8-10 from the field. Kori Guest and Cedric Garrett added 11 points each. Andre Washington grabbed a game high ten rebounds.

Daniel Kiely led Arizona Western in scoring with 23 points and Pharoh All scored 17 as well. Gio Nelson netted 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. While Jalen Townsell scored 12points.

In front of an excited crowd, the Aggies jumped out to an early 22-7 lead in the first seven minutes of the contest. Washington started a 10-0 run with a pair of free throws and a fast break dunk and a couple of free throws by Kyle Murray got the lead up to seven. An and one basket by Plumley, layup by Murray and a three-point jumper by Jaylan Thomas closed out the run.

Arizona Western would climb back and go on an 11- 3 run to cut the lead down to 7 with 7:21 left in the half but a three-point jumper made by Plumley would extend the lead back to double digits. Arizona Western would go on one last run to close out the half down 40-35 at the break.
The second half saw a similar start for the Aggies as they pushed the lead up to 14 with 17:05 left off of an 11-2 run. The Matadors would not go away in as they chipped away and got the lead to with in one with 11:18 left in the game off an Allah field goal.

Both teams would go scoreless for the next minute until a Townsell and-one dunk and free throw gave the Matadors a two-point lead and their first lead for the game. The Aggies would answer though with a three-point jumper by Thomas to take back the lead. Murray State would go on a 15-0 run to build the lead back to double digits but a late rally by the matadors got the lead down to 4 with 57 seconds left in the game. A couple of free throws by Garrett and Plumley would bring the lead back to seven to close out the game.

The Aggies shot 28-58 (48.3%) from the field, 8-25 (32%) from three and 20-42 (47.6%) from the free throw line. The Matadors shot 24-74 (32.4%) from the field, 4-20 (20%) from three, and 28-39 (71.8%) from the free throw line.
The Aggies will travel to next play at #2 Ranger on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and then travel to Hutchinson, Kansas to play in the Blue Dragon Classic against #10 Hutchinson on Friday at 7p.m. and against Barton on Saturday at 4 p.m.