Stark scores 36 to help Murray State beat SE Missouri State

Jan 5, 2018, 04:04 am

MURRAY, Ky. -- Jonathan Stark scored 28 of his season-high 36 points in the second half and freshman Ja Morant had 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a career-high five steals to help Murray State beat Southeast Missouri State 89-73 on Thursday night.

Stark made 9 of 16 from the field, including 4-of-7 3-pointers, and hit all of his career-high 14 free-throw attempts. Terrell Miller Jr. had 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals and Jalen Dupree added 10 points for Murray State (11-3, 3-0 Ohio Valley).

There were four lead changes and two ties before Morant scored seven points during a 16-2 run that gave the Racers the lead, 45-31, just before halftime. Southeast Missouri (7-9, 1-2) trimmed its deficit to eight points on three occasions in the second half, the last coming on a dunk by Ledarrius Brewer, but Stark scored 18 in the final 12 minutes as Murray State pulled away for good.

Brewer led the Redhawks with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The rest of the SEMO starters made just 9 of 26 (34.6 percent) from the field.

The Racers shot 54 percent (29 of 54) from the field and scored 23 points off 15 Redhawks turnovers.