Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Murray St. 66, Jacksonville St. 55
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 12, 2012
Where: CFSB Center, Murray, Kentucky
Officials: # Col Gammon, # Brent Hampton, # Alfred Smith
Attendance: 5839
Donte Poole scored 21 points as one of four players in double figures to help No. 14 Murray State remain unbeaten with a 66-55 Ohio Valley Conference win over Jacksonville State Thursday in Murray, Ky.

The Racers (17-0, 5-0 OVC), who along with top-ranked Syracuse and No. 4 Baylor are still perfect, set a school record for the best start to a season. And their 17th straight win equals a school record set two years ago. MSU also notched its 15th straight home win, dating back to last season.

The Racers never trailed but it was not easy. Leading by eight late in the first half, Murray State saw Jacksonville State (6-13, 1-5 OVC) closed the half on a 9-2 run to trail only 25-23. Poole, who scored 12 points in the first half, kept getting to the free throw line, converting a career-best 12 of 14 to keep the visiting Gamecocks at bay.

Ed Daniel joined Poole in double digits for MSU with 11 points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds, while Isaiah Canaan and Zay Jackson each added 10 points. Murray State, which came into the game ranked fourth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, shot a season-low 18 percent, converting a just 2 of 11 from long distance.

Brian Williams led Jacksonville State with 18 points and Ronnie Boggs added 13.

Top Game Performances
 
Jacksonville St.   Murray St.
Brian Williams 18 Scoring Donte Poole 21
Dion Waiters 4 Assists Isaiah Canaan 4
Brian Williams 4 Rebounds Edward Daniel 9
Brian Williams 5 Free Throws Made Donte Poole 12
Dion Waiters 4 Steals Zay Jackson 3
Tarvin Gaines 1 Blocks Edward Daniel 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Jacksonville St. 55 38.5 2-9 13-22 10 21 2 8 19
Murray St. 66 41.7 2-11 24-35 13 33 5 10 15