Five Racers Hit Double Figures

By WELDON GRIMSLEY, Sun-Democrat Sports Editor 

MURRAY, Ky., Jan. 7 - Murray State College, getting a solid team effort led by big Jim Jennings, kicked off its bid for the Ohio Valley Conference championship with a booming 98-68 victory over Middle Tennessee here tonignt. The Racers, after looking somewhat flat in the first half, opened both barrels in the second half and filled Middle with enough buckshot for its third OVC defeat. Murray boosted its overall season record to 6-4 and lowered Middle's to 5-3. Middle has now dropped three of four league games.

Jennings headed a five-man double figure scoring attack with 19 points and was also top gun on the boards with as many rebounds. He was given strong scoring support by Gene Pendleton, who bucketed 17, and good board assistance by Stu Johnson who pulled off 15 rebounds. Murray's biggest lead in the first half was 10 points before Middle sliced the margin to six at intermission. The Tennesseans had closed the gap to only two points before Johnson and John Namciu cashed in on tip-ins to provide Murray with a 42-36 halftime advantage. The Racers exploded in the second half and, in practically no time flat, had pushed its lead to 15 points as Pendleton drove in for a layup with 15:42 to give the Thoroughbreds a 58-43 lead.
From this point the Racers steadily added to their lead, finally going ahead by 35 points on a set shot by Benny Goheen with 4:18 left to make the score 91-54. It was at this point In the game that Murray coach Cal Luther sent in his reserves to finish polishing off Middle. Rounding out the Murray double figure attack were Namciu with14, Al Varnas with 13 and Johnson with 12. Namciu was also a demon on the boards, pulling home 10 rebounds.
Top gun for Middle was Larry Stewart, a Clinton product. The 6-3 guard rang in 16 markers to head up a four-man double figure barrage by the losers. Ray Kempf and Mike Milholland added 15 apiece and Jim Spencer collected 12. Murray hit a torrid 53 per cent from the field, as compared to Middle's 36.8 per cent. The Racers were dominated in rebounds, 70-41.