ALTUS, Okla. — The Murray State College men's basketball team dropped a road contest to Western Oklahoma State College, 85-71, Monday night.
 
Western Oklahoma State carried a 40-31 advantage into halftime and maintained control throughout the second half, outscoring the Aggies 45-40 over the final 20 minutes to secure the 14-point victory.
 
Murray State struggled to find an early rhythm as Western Oklahoma State shot 48.3 percent from the field for the game and held a 44-22 edge on the boards. The rebounding margin proved pivotal, as the Pioneers turned 12 offensive rebounds into key second-chance opportunities.
 
Ashton Smith poured in a game-high 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and knocked down all six of his free throws. Haki Muhammad II provided a spark off the bench with 21 points, connecting on three 3-pointers and going 4-of-5 from the line.
 
Abeeng Agot added nine points and four rebounds while battling inside. Malachi Schilreff contributed across the stat sheet with five points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Domantas Šarauskas added five points and three boards.
 
As a team, Murray State shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the floor but stayed efficient at the free-throw line, converting 19-of-23 attempts (82.6 percent). The Aggies also hit 10-of-22 from 3-point range (45.5 percent), but were unable to overcome Western Oklahoma State's balanced attack and dominance on the glass.
 
Murray State returns home Thursday, March 5, to host NOC-Tonkawa in its final home game of the regular season. The matchup will also serve as Sophomore Day with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
Assistant Sports Information Director: Jeremy Wagner | jwagner@mscok.edu
Aggie Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Murray State College Men's Basketball: Twitter | Instagram