The Murray State Racers opened their 98th season of college basketball with a 91-68 loss against the Saint Louis Billikens at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Racers get back on the floor Saturday for their home opener with Lindsey Wilson paying a visit to the CFSB Center on MSU Hall of Fame Day and a 7 p.m. tip.
Playing in their first game at Murray State, the trio of Jamari Smith, Rob Perry and Kenny White, Jr., led the Racers in scoring. Smith hit 6-of-11 from the field for 19 points and five rebounds, while Perry scored 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting. White hit 4-of-9 from the field for 10 points. JaCobi Wood led the Racers with eight rebounds.
Trailing by as many as 18 points with 15:30 left, the Racers made a 6-0 run as Smith cut the SLU lead down to 59-48 with 12:05 remaining. The deficit was still 11 points the 9:43 mark when Brian Moore, Jr. made a drive to the basket. SLU hit back-to-back threes to complete an 8-0 run for a 74-55 lead with 8:44 and the Racers never recovered.
In the first half, the Racers had a hot start and a 9-2 lead on buckets by Quincy Anderson, Perry and White. At the 13:08 mark, Anderson beat the shot clock and the Racers were in front 13-12. The Billikens hit the Racers with a 10-1 run to go in front 35-22 at the 3:19 mark, but the Racers cut the deficit to eight at 1:56 when Smith hit just the second 3-pointer in MSU's first 13 tries. Saint Louis held a 44-29 lead at the intermission.