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Murray State remains unbeaten, downs SIU-Edwardsville

Jan 22, 2012 - 5:15 AM Edwardsville, IL (Sports Network) - Isaiah Canaan scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down five rebounds, leading 12th-ranked Murray State to an 82-65 victory over SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday.

Jewuan Long contributed 17 points and Donte Poole chipped in with 14 points for the Racers (20-0, 8-0 OVC). Ed Daniel added 10 points in the win.

With No, 1 Syracuse dropping a 67-58 decision to Notre Dame on Saturday, Murray State is now the only remaining unbeaten team in Division I basketball.

Mark Yelovich led the Cougars (5-12, 3-5 OVC) with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Kris Davis finished with 15 points and Derian Shaffer added 12 in the loss. SIU-Edwardsville has lost four straight.

SIU kept it close early, as the game was tied at 12 under five minutes into the game, but Murray State took control of the contest with a 14-0 run, capped by a Poole three-pointer, to lead 26-12 with 12 1/2 minutes to play in the opening half.

A tip-in by Shaffer with just over three minutes left in the half cut the deficit to 10, but Poole answered with another trey to push the Murray State lead back to 45-32.

The Racers led comfortably, 49-35, at the break.

Murray State remained in control in the second half and opened the second 20 minutes by outscoring the Cougars 10-6 to push the lead to 59-41 less than five minutes in.

A tip-in by Canaan gave the Racers a 20-point lead and a pair of free throws by Zay Jackson put Murray State up 82-60 -- its largest lead of the night -- with under a minute to play.

Game Notes

Saturday marked the 11th meeting in the all-time series. Murray State has won nine of the previous 10 matchups...Murray State shot 42.9 percent from the floor, while SIU-Edwardsville shot 41.7 percent...The Racers outrebounded the Cougars, 41-39, and won the turnover battle, converting 21 SIU turnovers into 32 points.