Thomas scores 18 as Murray State clinches OVC title with 80-68 victory over SE Missouri

Murray State defeats Southeast Missouri 80-68

MURRAY, Ky. — Danero Thomas scored 18 points and Murray State clinched the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title with an 80-68 victory over Southeast Missouri on Tuesday night.

The Racers (25-3, 16-0) pushed the nation’s longest winning streak to 16 games in winning their 21st conference title and the first since 2006. Murray State also has won 23 straight regular-season OVC games.

Fourteen players saw action and 12 scored for the Racers, who shot 59.3 percent from the field (16-for-27) in the second half after taking a 35-21 halftime lead.

Thomas was 8-for-9 from the field and Tony Easley, who scored 12 points and blocked seven shots, was 5-for-6.

Marland Smith scored 19 points for Southeast Missouri (7-20, 3-13), which shot 30.8 percent from the field (8-for-26) in the first half. Derek Thompson hit five 3-pointers and had 17 points, and Jajuan Maxwell added 15 points.