The mid-major darling this college basketball season is Murray State. The Racers had run off 23 straight wins to open the 2011-12 season and ranked in the Top 10. Murray State is #9 in this weeks Associated Press poll.
Thursday night the Racers looked to keep the undefeated run alive taking on Tennessee State on Murray State's home court.
TSU was up for the challenge and shocked the Racers 72-68 to end Murray State's hopes of an undefeated regular season.
Here's a full report from Murray, KY. (Thanks WSPD-TV)
"I'm very proud of our young men to be able to come here and win on the road," Tennessee State head coach John Cooper said in a press conference after the game. "It is certainly not an easy place to play, a packed house and a team that just stuck to it. There was a point where we were down 12 points in the second half but yet, and still for whatever reason, we hung in there."
It was the first time the TSU Tigers had defeated a nationally ranked program. The win also ensured Tennessee State would have their first winning season since 1995.
As for Murray State, expect the Racers to take a significant fall in the polls, such is life as a mid-major losing the a conference rival.
It also puts pressure on the Racers to defeat Saint Mary's February 18th. Saint Mary's has a high RPI and that would make an impression on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee should the Racers stumble again, especially in the OVC post season tournament.
The rest of Murray State schedule features teams with low RPI's.
After the recent Final Four runs by mid-majors Butler and Virginia Commonwealth a run by a middie receives more attention.
Is Murray State that mid-major that will capture the nations attention in March? The Racers 23 game winning run put them in the spotlight.
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