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Murray State remains unbeaten

Dec 18, 2011 - 8:18 AM Murray, KY (Sports Network) - Isaiah Canaan scored a game-high 21 points to lead No. 24 Murray State past Arkansas State, 66-53.

Ivan Aska added 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Donte Poole scored 11 with five boards for the Racers (12-0), who are off to their best start since 1950-51. The school record belongs to the 1935-36 squad, which opened the season with a 16-0 record.

Ed Townsel paced Arkansas State (5-6) with 17 points and five assists. Adam Sterrenberg was the only other member of the Red Wolves to score in double digits with 10 points.

"They are a good team, their perimeter is as good as we have played," Arkansas State head coach John Brady said about Murray State. "Their post play is good enough, they play hard and they are active."

With the game tied at eight 5 1/2 minutes into the first half, a pair of free throws by Marcus Hooten sparked a 9-0 run by Arkansas State to give the Red Wolves a 17-8 lead near the midpoint of the first.

But Murray State responded by scoring 15 of the next 19 points to take a 23-21 lead on Canaan's three-pointer with 7:25 to go before the break. The shot was Canaan's third trey in the run.

The Red Wolves would tie the game twice before the half but they never led again as the Racers took a 35-30 lead into the break.

Murray State opened the second half with a 14-4 run to take a 49-32 lead a little over nine minutes into the second half and led by as much as 21 while holding Arkansas State to 33 percent shooting in the half to run away with the game.

"The first 10 minutes of the second half was the difference in the basketball game," Murray State head coach Steve Prohm said. "We guarded them and really defended. That's what we have to do every night."

Game Notes

Murray State improved to 33-2 at home over the past three seasons...Hooten finished the game with nine points...Arkansas State's Malcoln Kirkland pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.