Men's Basketball 11/1/2023 11:12:00 PM

Aggie men turn up defensive heat in opener

Box Score By Kevin Farr
Murray State Sports Information
TISHOMINGO – Nursing a three-point lead with six minutes left in the opening half, Murray State forced five straight turnovers to fuel a strong first half closing run and cruised from there in a 76-50 season-opening win over Neosho Community College on Wednesday night at Beames Fieldhouse.

The Aggie offense turned the visitors' turnovers into nine straight points for a 32-20 edge and Coach Josh Davis' club never relinquished a double digit lead after that while improving to 1-0 on the season.

Murray State continues a rugged early stretch of four games in six days when they host a talented Richland College squad at 7:30 p.m. Friday on Homecoming.

"We're just glad to get a win in the opener," Davis said. "Our guys were really locked in defensively. Coach Wagner did a really good job with a defensive plan. The guys were ready and excited pretty well on that end of the floor."

Sophomore Tarrance Austin set the tone right out of the chute, turning a pair of steals into transition buckets during an opening 7-0 flurry, but the visitors would not go away, narrowing the gap to 23-20 before the decisive push. It was a 39-25 cushion for Murray State at halftime.

A total of four Aggies reached double figures spurred by freshman Isaiah Lewis with 18 of those. Returnee Stanley Harley pumped in 11 with Austin and Treyvaughn Williams tossing in 10 points apiece.

Ezekiel Williamsonbey posted eight, Jackson Lawley had seven, R.J. Chatman and Ignas Juskevisius tallied six each with Rustin Coffey and Emery Eberhard both adding two.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Jackson Lawley: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#4 Stanley Harley: PG; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#5 Tarrance Austin: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#13 Treyvaughn Williams: G; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#33 Emery Eberhard: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

#14 Rustin Coffey: G/F; 6' 6"; Freshman

#1 Isaiah Lewis: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Jackson Lawley
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G

#4 Stanley Harley
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: PG

#5 Tarrance Austin
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Treyvaughn Williams
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: G

#33 Emery Eberhard
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#14 Rustin Coffey
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: G/F

#1 Isaiah Lewis
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G