CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS---"You don't want to go to war with the Panthers! Don't start no stuff! There'll be no stuff!"
Since divisions were conceived in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Murray State Racers have owned the OVC West. In fact, the mid-major power has possessed at least a two game lead atop the standings of the aforementioned group upon racing into Nashville for the conference tournament each of the past three years.
However, this season has been different.
With a new coach replacing Steve Prohm (Matt McMahon) and Cameron Payne playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Racers have been unable to speed away from their division foes as they entered tonight tied for the lead with UT-Martin. Moreover, they actually required a win against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, who have not defeated Murray State since 2013, to keep their hopes of claiming the OVC West and the second seed alive. One would have thought the Racers would leave victorious in a contest that had the potential to turn ugly late.
"That's why they play the games!"
Although Damarcus Croaker had a career-high night of 26 points, the Panthers controlled for the majority and never relinquished their edge during the second half in an 85-74 upset win to send off seniors Trae Anderson, Luke Piotrowski, and Luke Norman in style.
Eastern Illinois, immediately displaying their ability to compete with back-to-back baskets to start, found themselves in a 5-on-1 slugfest early, for the Racers' Damarcus Croaker was the only on his team with the ability to "put the biscuit in the basket."
So the Panthers pulled away easily because of their ability to shut down weapons like Jeffery Moss and Wayne Langston?
Not exactly.
While Croaker supplied the first 17 points (his teammates were 0-for-4 from the field), Eastern Illinois found themselves trailing 17-16 at the 13:32 mark. And sadly for the home team, momentum was not on their side either considering the Racers' 6'4" guard had just slammed a monster dunk through in traffic and completed the ensuing "and-one."
Nevertheless, EIU did not let the previous phase them as freshman Patrick Muldoon spurred an 11-2 prowl that was pushed forward by four points apiece from Trae Anderson and Demetrius McReynolds. 27-19 Eastern Illinois! Lantz Arena was rocking!
But, not for long because Croaker dunked again to draw his squad within four (27-23 EIU).
Following nine points from both sides, which kept the margin the same heading towards one minute remaining in the first, "fab freshman" Casey Teson nailed a trey. And was fouled. And made the free throw.
The roof flew off the arena! And the Panthers did not stop scoring either. Moreover, Cornell Johnston made a pair at the charity stripe and Aboubacar Diallo, who had three highlight blocks on the evening, swished a jump hook as time expired to supply a double-figure advantage heading into halftime (44-32 EIU).
For the first two minutes of the second twenty, things did not change since the Panthers matched every basket the Racers threw on the board. Though, Murray State's defense soon experienced success while Croaker finally received some much needed help on offense (9-3 run), which altered the score to 53-48 in favor of Eastern Illinois. The favorite was finally coming back.
Yet, in what would become a common theme of the final 13:48, Matt McMahon's group could not dwindle the gap to one-possession. Why? EIU always hit a basket to push their edge higher.
For instance, even though the Racers galloped to only five behind, a 4-0 Panthers' mini-spurt extended it back to nine (57-48 EIU). Again, when Murray State's Bryce Jones made two at the charity stripe, resulting in what would be the smallest deficit of the half, Eastern Illinois' Anderson posted two more of his team-high 22 to spur what would be a 5-0 sprint. Simply, the Racers could not mount a large enough offensive outburst or back-to-back defensive stop to break down the wall in front of them.
In their final attempt to rally, Murray State's Jones netted a jumper with 4:58 left (69-62 EIU). On the next possession, the Racers' defense held strong for 24 seconds. Unfortunately for them, there is 30 seconds on the shot clock as Teson buried his only triple of the bout to re-extend the lead to double-figures and begin an 8-0 run. It was over in "Chuck Town!"
Terrific Trae Leaving a Legacy
When Trae Anderson came to Charleston, Illinois, as a JUCO transfer from Southwestern Illinois College, one was skeptic on how his game would translate to the Division I level. Now, two years later, the young man has left a mark on the program.
With 831 points and 298 rebounds for his EIU career, the "star senior" has been a part of some of the brightest moments in the school's Division I history. Last season, Anderson was in the middle of the Panthers' first postseason victory (19 points) and now he has helped his squad to consecutive .500 plus campaigns in conference play for the first time since 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. In other words, he has etched his name in history.
"It's special man. I really wanted to go out there and do good for my last game here (Lantz Arena). I just played my heart out and lived with the result."
---Trae Anderson
Complementing Anderson's 22 points, Demetrius McReynolds and Cornell Johnston nearly grabbed double-doubles with 16 points and 9 rebounds for the previous and 11 points and 9 assists for the latter while freshmen Patrick Muldoon and Casey Teson each had 13 points.
13-16 (9-7) Eastern Illinois will have the weekend off before packing their bags for the Music City. The first round begins on Wednesday with the 5th seed facing the 8th seed and the 6th seed challenging the the Panthers themselves.
Skying for Career-High
A transfer from Texas, Murray State's Damarcus Croaker has been a much needed addition for the Racers. And immediately, he showcased his talent, for he had a career-high 21 points in the first game of the regular season.
On Thursday, he one upped his debut.
The only road player to drain shots early, the Orlando, Florida, native had 17 points less than 9 minutes in! Although he would finish the contest on 4-of-10, Croaker still surpassed his career-high with ease as he had 26 points. More impressively, he really showed all aspects of his game. From highlight dunks to catching fire from beyond the arc, he did everything he could to keep Murray State close.
The always dangerous Jeffery Moss was contained to just 12 points this evening and Bryce Jones stuffed the stat-sheet with a near triple-double of 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
15-13 (9-6) Murray State hosts UT-Martin on Saturday.
OVC Tournament Implications
The biggest fans of the Eastern Illinois Panthers this evening was none other than the UT-Martin Skyhawks.
You see, UT-Martin needed to defeat Tennessee State and an EIU win to avoid Saturday's matchup in Murray deciding the two seed and the West Division championship. Just happens they received a late Christmas present from the Panthers, which gives them a double-bye into the semi-finals.
Now for Murray State and Eastern Illinois, more drama is involved.
"I think we pretty much do the same exact thing," said Trae Anderson upon asked the game plan for another meeting with Murray State. "I know they are going to come out with different intentions. They are going to come out ready to play. and get the big man involved early (Wayne Langston, who was held to 8 points tonight). We just have to stay focused on the defensive end."
EIU's season is over, and the seventh seed is their claim. However, the Racers essentially fell from the second seed to currently the sixth, with the potential to possibly move higher depending on the results of Morehead State and Tennessee Tech. Therefore, if you enjoyed the action tonight, you should start making some more popcorn because Murray State/Eastern Illinois has the potential to be the second game of Wednesday's action from Nashville. Excited yet?
He Said It (Part I)
"It is always a big deal to beat Murray (State) because it just doesn't happen very much."
---Eastern Illinois head coach Jay Spoonhour
He Said It (Part II)
"It was real big. It was definitely a momentum changer for us going into the tournament, especially the fact that since I've been here we (have) never beat them. It was good to get the win against them. They are a great team."
---Eastern Illinois' Trae Anderson on the magnitude of beating Murray State.
He Said It (Part III)
"I honestly don't think we could have won without them. They did a great job of cheering us on. Even when we were in a slump scoring, they still did a great job of cheering us on when we were getting stops and things like that. We appreciate them."
---Trae Anderson on the home crowd's intensity for a nationally televised contest.
He Said It (Part IV)
"Demetrius (McReynolds) did a great job. It is hard work because they are running him off all kinds of stuff and it is just hard work. So Demetrius did great and when he wasn't on him, Marshawn Blackmon did a good job."
---Jay Spoonhour's comments on his team's defense on Murray State's leading scorer Jeffery Moss.
He Said It (Part V)
"We got to come in and win. Simple as that! We are going to take it one game at a time and just try to outwork our opponents."
---Trae Anderson's thoughts going into the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.