MURRAY, Ky. - Isacc Miles hit a jump shot at the buzzer to lead Murray State to a controversial 65-63 win against Austin Peay State University, Saturday night, in Ohio Valley Conference basketball action in the Regional Special Events Center.
With 4.1 seconds left, APSU sophomore center John Fraley hit two free throws to tie the game at 63. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Miles drove left side of the court with Caleb Brown in his hip pocket. Miles spun away from Brown and hit a shot from the left wing just inside the three-point arc.
The officials initially called it good but then went to the replay monitor to see if the ball had been released before the buzzer. After watching the replay, APSU assistant coach Scott Combs saw a replay that left him believing the ball was still in Miles hand when the backboard lights went on. However, a few seconds later referee Gary Vaughn called the shot good, providing Murray State its 13th straight victory and pushed the Racers mark to 22-3, 13-0 in the OVC.
The loss snapped Austin Peay's winning streak at four games and dropped them to 14-11 overall and 8-5 in the OVC.
It was a game that saw the visiting Governors lead much of the contest. APSU fell behind 8-2 to start the game only to go on a 19-2 run to lead, 21-10, the last bucket during the run on a Tyrone Caldwell three pointer--10 of those first 21 APSU points coming of turnovers. But the Racers used an 18-5 run of its own to take a 28-26 advantage with 5:22 left as APSU saw post players John Fraley, Duran Roberson and Marcel Williams all picking up two early fouls.
Meanwhile, the Governors, with Anthony Campbell and Justin Blake hitting key buckets, rebounded to take a 33-30 into halftime.
The Govs scored the second half's first bucket on a Campbell jumper before Murray State came back to tie it, 40-40, with 16:40 left. But four straight Caleb Brown free throws put APSU in the lead with 12:44 left and held the advantage until 6:08 was left when Danero Thomas knocked down a three pointer to tie the game for the eighth time at 56-56.
But APSU immediately responded when Wesley Channels knocked down a three pointer of his own from deep on the right wing. APSU maintained the lead until Miles scored on a traditional three-point play with 2:19 left to tie the game at 61-61.
After an Austin Peay miss, Miles again drove and scored to give Murray State the lead with 1:32 left. Miles, however, missed the free throw this time but Murray could not put away the game by missing three shots over the next 55 seconds after snatching offensive rebounds. On the final try, Campbell grabbed the rebound.
That led to the Govs' final offensive play as APSU drove the lane with Fraley being fouled on his dunk attempt. He calmly sank both to tie the game.
That set up the controversial ending.
Campbell was APSU's only double-figure scorer with 20 points, including four three pointers, while grabbing eight rebounds.
Thomas led Murray with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Thomas, who was hitting just 28.6 percent from three-point range entering the game, made four-of-six long-range shots-all in the second half to keep the Racers within striking distance.
Neither team shot well, the Govs connecting on 20 of 45 for 44.4 percent while the Racers were only 42.1 percent (24 of 57) as the Govs 2-3 zone defense, deployed early in the first half confounded the home team most of the night. The Racers overcame poor shooting (6-23 3FG, 11-19 FT) and 17 turnovers by outrebounding dominating the board, 42-24, including 20 offensive boards.
