Cowboys Drop Murray State 74-61 After Slow Start

TISHOMINGO—Trailing 36-32 at the half, Connors State exploded for 42 second half points en route to a 74-61 Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference victory Monday night on the Aggies home floor.

It was the Cowboys second win of the season over Murray. Connors will now take a week off before returning to OCAC action next Monday when they travel to Altus to battle Western Oklahoma State College. Cowboys will enter the fray against the Pioneers with a 22-5 season mark and 11-3 league record. Murray falls to 6-20 overall and 3-10 in OCAC play.

Cowboys remain one game back of league leading Northeastern A&M, who defeated Western Oklahoma State 81-55 on the Norse home floor.

The Cowboys trailed Murray 12-0 to open the game and did not score for the first six minutes of the game.

"We started the game really bad," said Cowboys Coach Bill Muse."We held on the first half and closed the gap at half time.

"We came out the second half and executed a little bit better on offense. We played solid defense the entire game and were able to get out with a win."

Connors had five players score in double digits with freshman Callen Haydon leading the attack with 22 points. He finished 7-for-7 at the free throw line and in the last two contests he has drained 18-of-18 at the stripe.

The Cowboys drained 26-of-34 at the free throw line, with Terrance Jones draining 10-of-13 at the stripe as he finished with 15 points. He was followed in the scoring by Burke Putnam and Isiah Jones with 12 points each. Jordan Graham tallied 11 points in the victory.

Shem'Mario Stephens led Murray's scoring with 22 points with Lloyd Daniels contributing 12 points.

CONNORS STATE 74, MURRAY STATE 61

Connors State 32  42--74

Murray State 36 25--61

Connors State (22-5, 11-3)—Haydon 22, T. Jones 15, Putnam 12, I. Jones 12, Graham 11,  Sidberry 2, Lowe 2.

Murray State (6-20, 3-10)—Stephens 22, Daniels 12, McLeish 10, Murray 8, Brister 5, Nance 1, Gouro 1.