Box Score EDMOND, Okla. – Murray State College men's basketball went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's best on Monday afternoon, taking a second-half lead before falling 90-84 to No. 9 Odessa College at the University of Central Oklahoma.
The game was knotted at ten after the first eight minutes of action. The Wranglers used a 17-4 run over the next three minutes to take a double digit lead. The Aggies, though, cut it to six with just under four minutes to play in the first half. Odessa would push the lead back up to 13 just before the half. A three from
Ashton Smith in the last possession of the 1st half, trimmed Odessa's lead to 10 as both teams headed to their locker room for halftime adjustments.
The Aggies came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders to start the second half. Murray State used a 21-0 run to take an 11 point lead with just over 12 minutes to go in the game. In the run, the Aggies hit five three as
Ashton Smith hit two, while
Haki Muhammad II,
Tayesen Combs, and
Domantas Sarauskas each made one.
The Wranglers, however, responded with a 7-0 run in the next minute to trim Murray State's lead to four. The game would remain tight the rest of the way as the Wranglers took the lead with just over eight minutes to play. The Aggies would answer back with a two point basket by Sarauskas to retake the lead at 73-72.
There would be four lead changes in the next three minutes until an 8-0 run by the Wranglers put Odessa up by 5 with just under five minutes to play. The Aggies, though, cut Odessa's lead to just one at 82-81 with 3:30 to go in the game.
The Aggies could not get the one key stop down the stretch and ultimately fell to No. 9 Odessa College by a score of 90-84.
Freshman guard
Haki Muhammad II led the Aggies with 23 points, going 12-for-14 from the free-throw line and adding three steals.
Ashton Smith added 20 points, connecting on four three-pointers, while
Domantas Sarauskas had an efficient outing with 17 points and six rebounds.
Tayesen Combs also scored in double figures with 11 points and two assists.
As a team, Murray State shot 44.6% from the field and hit 11 three-pointers, while Odessa countered with 51.9% shooting and a 39-30 rebounding advantage.
The Aggies return to the court tomorrow to take on Western Texas College. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
Assistant Sports Information Director: Jeremy Wagner | jwagner@mscok.edu
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