MURRAY, Ky. (AP)—Shawn Witherspoon scored 16 points and tied his career high with eight assists as Murray State beat Jacksonville State 78-72 Saturday in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Racers (16-5, 13-2 Ohio Valley Conference) went to the free-throw line 27 times in the second half but made just 16 of those attempts.
Walker Russell led four Jacksonville State (10-11, 8-7 OVC) starters in double figures with 21 points. Dorien Brown chipped in with 17, while Courtney Bradley and B.J. Spencer each had 12.
Jacksonville State pushed the tempo of the game creating 21 fast break points in the first half, but Murray State used 12 players to outscore the Gamecocks 22-0 off the bench for a 42-34 halftime lead.
Jacksonville State took a two-point lead off B.J. Spencers 3-pointer with 7:01 to play.
Witherspoon hit a 3-pointer to give the Racers a 66-64 lead with 4:44 left, and they never looked back.
Murray State has won six straight, their longest streak of the season.
