1990–91 Murray State Racers men's basketball team

The 1990–91 Murray State Racers men's basketball team represented Murray State University during the 1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Racers, led by head coach Steve Newton, played their home games at Racer Arena in Murray, Kentucky as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. They finished the season 24–9, 10–2 in OVC play to win the OVC regular season championship. They defeated Middle Tennessee to win the OVC tournament to advance to the NCAA tournament. As No. 14 seed in the Southeast region, the Racers battled No. 3 seed Alabama before losing 89–79.

1990–91 Murray State Racers men's basketball
Puerto Rico Classic champions
Ohio Valley Regular season champions
Ohio Valley tournament champions
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Record24–9 (10–2 OVC)
Head coach
Home arenaRacer Arena
Seasons
1990–91 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Murray State102 .833249 .727
Eastern Kentucky93 .7501910 .655
Tennessee Tech66 .5001216 .429
Austin Peay66 .5001514 .517
Middle Tennessee66 .500219 .700
Morehead State48 .3331613 .552
Tennessee State111 .083523 .179
1991 OVC tournament[1] winner

Roster

1990–91 Murray State Racers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
F54Popeye Jones6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)250 lb (113 kg)JrDresden HSDresden, TN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

[2]

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordSite (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
Nov 23, 1990*
vs. Bucknell
Puerto Rico Classic
W 81–68 1–0
Mario Morales Coliseum 
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Nov 24, 1990*
vs. Old Dominion
Puerto Rico Classic
W 76–61 2–0
Mario Morales Coliseum 
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Nov 25, 1990*
vs. Nebraska
Puerto Rico Classic
W 81–79 3–0
Mario Morales Coliseum 
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Nov 28, 1990*
Georgia SouthernW 78–61 4–0
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Dec 1, 1990*
Western KentuckyW 97–91 5–0
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Dec 4, 1990*
at Memphis StateL 78–85 5–1
Mid-South Coliseum 
Memphis, Tennessee
Dec 7, 1990*
vs. Texas Southern
Citizens Bank Classic
W 79–65 6–1
Convocation Center 
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Dec 8, 1990*
at Arkansas State
Citizens Bank Classic
L 62–63 6–2
Convocation Center 
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Dec 14, 1990*
at Southern IllinoisW 83–77 7–2
SIU Arena 
Carbondale, Illinois
Dec 17, 1990*
Prairie View A&MW 103–52 8–2
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Dec 21, 1990*
vs. U.S. International
U.S. Air Classic
W 103–55 9–2
Nutter Center 
Fairborn, Ohio
Dec 22, 1990*
at Wright State
U.S. Air Classic
L 76–79 9–3
Nutter Center 
Fairborn, Ohio
Dec 28, 1990*
vs. South Alabama
BMA Holiday Classic
W 88–78 OT10–3
Kemper Arena 
Kansas City, Missouri
Dec 29, 1990*
vs. Kansas State
BMA Holiday Classic
L 50–67 10–4
Kemper Arena 
Kansas City, Missouri
Jan 2, 1991*
North AlabamaL 70–88 10–5
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Jan 5, 1991
Austin PeayW 71–66 11–5
(1–0)
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Jan 8, 1991*
at Georgia SouthernL 63–66 11–6
Hanner Fieldhouse 
Statesboro, Georgia
Jan 12, 1991*
IUPUIW 84–52 12–6
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Jan 14, 1991
at Middle Tennessee StateW 70–66 13–6
(2–0)
Murphy Center 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Jan 19, 1991
Tennessee StateL 73–75 13–7
(2–1)
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Jan 21, 1991
Tennessee TechW 86–74 14–7
(3–1)
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Jan 26, 1991
at Morehead StateW 80–55 15–7
(4–1)
Ellis Johnson Arena 
Morehead, Kentucky
Jan 28, 1991
at Eastern KentuckyL 82–87 15–8
(4–2)
McBrayer Arena 
Richmond, Kentucky
Feb 2, 1991
at Austin PeayW 79–71 16–8
(5–2)
Dunn Center 
Clarksville, Tennessee
Feb 4, 1991*
at Prairie View A&MW 81–68 17–8
William J. Nicks Building 
Prairie View, Texas
Feb 9, 1991
Eastern KentuckyW 64–52 18–8
(6–2)
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Feb 11, 1991
Morehead StateW 81–73 19–8
(7–2)
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Feb 16, 1991
at Tennessee TechW 72–64 20–8
(8–2)
Eblen Center 
Cookeville, Tennessee
Feb 18, 1991
at Tennessee StateW 65–64 21–8
(9–2)
Gentry Complex 
Nashville, Tennessee
Feb 23, 1991
Middle Tennessee StateW 91–86 22–8
(10–2)
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Ohio Valley Conference tournament
Mar 3, 1991*
(1) (6) Morehead State
Semifinal
W 89–61 23–8
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
Mar 4, 1991*
(1) (4) Middle Tennessee State
Championship Game
W 79–67 24–8
Racer Arena 
Murray, Kentucky
NCAA tournament
Mar 15, 1991*
(14 SE) vs. (3 SE) No. 19 Alabama
First Round
L 79–89 24–9
The Omni 
Atlanta, Georgia
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
SE=Southeast.
All times are in Central Time.

[3]

Awards and honors

References