Saint Peter’s surprises again, ends Racers’ 21-game streak and season

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — With two mid-majors looking to make historic progress within their programs, someone was about to win, and win big.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t No. 7 seeded Murray State.

Saint Peter’s continued its darling dance Saturday night at Gainbridge Arena — halting the Racers’ 21-game winning streak, 70-60, to become just the third team in NCAA Tournament history to make the Sweet 16 as a 15-seed.

Joining the ranks of 2013 Florida Gulf Coast and 2021 Oral Roberts, the Peacocks (21-11) did to MSU what it did two nights ago to No. 2 seed Kentucky — make everything uncomfortable offensively for the Racers (31-3), make repeated clutch shots with less than six minutes to go, and execute a relentless dribble-drive weave that led to a handful of easy, back-breaking baskets.

Favored in the second round for the first time in school history, and desperately seeking its first-ever trip to the second weekend, Murray State never could grab a lead — as fouls and two-point misses piled up in the first 20 minutes.

The Racers held the Peacocks to 41.5% shooting from the floor, 23.1% from the arc and turned 13 turnovers into easy scores. Four players — Justice Hill (19), Tevin Brown (14), K.J. Williams (12) and Trae Hannibal (10) — scored in double figures.

But MSU shot 34.6% from the field, 33.3% from the arc and 64.0% from the stripe — including just 10-for-28 inside 27 feet — in what seventh-year coach Matt McMahon noted, clearly, was a disappointing loss.

Top 20 in both 2-point and 3-point defense this year while averaging more than 19 personal fouls per game, the Peacocks earned their ninth-straight win primarily on that bully-ish calling card. Senior forward KC Ndefo, who averaged 3.6 blocks last year and 2.7 blocks this year, finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six stuffs himself — including a late block of Hannibal to deny a for-sure transition dunk.

Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway — the first to take a New Jersey team to the Sweet 16 since that 2000 squad from Seton Hall (a team, of course, he led as its point guard) — said there was little fear from his group to make this a physical game.

Down just 32-27 at the half, despite that 5-for-17 shooting from two and foul trouble with the forwards, things got worse for Murray State before they got closer. Saint Peter’s opened the second half on an 8-0 run — Ndefo jumper, Matthew Lee 3-pointer, Daryl Banks free throw, Clarence Rupert jumper — for a 40-27 advantage.

Slowly, but surely, and like its done multiple times this magical season, MSU made its move on a second-half deficit. Brown’s 3-pointer cut it to 40-30. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Hill and Brown sliced it to 50-47 with 8:42 to go. Gainbridge Arena, filled with Racer, Michigan, Tennessee and Saint Peter’s fans, roared.

But it wasn’t to be.

Doug Edert, a 90% free-throw shooter, was fouled on a 3-point attempt, making it 57-50. But another run came, capped by Hill’s 3-pointer at the 4:07 mark to get it within 59-57.

Edert, who had 20 against the Wildcats, struck again — his own 3-pointer silencing the faithful. He’d score again after an uncharacteristic turnover from Hill, making it 64-57. Brown’s rebound and transition layup had it within 64-60 and a minute to go, and hope remaining.

But the Racers missed four desperation 3-pointers in the final 50 seconds. The Peacocks, rolling in more than $100 million at least in free publicity and air time, were triumphant.

The Racers, painfully close.

Is McMahon staying?

There’s a time and a place for this discussion. So much so, in fact, that I feel uncomfortable writing about it. McMahon and his family are less than 12 hours removed from a memorable season ending on a tough note, and for the last decade, the quintet have only watched their family grow within the Murray community.

But to ignore the elephant in the room would be more of a disservice to McMahon’s resume and success, and would selfishly serve as a comfort blanket for people like me, other local media, the Murray State Athletic Department, and Racer alumni against the unknown.

With each passing win, each landmark occasion for the Racers, McMahon’s coaching stock rose. Not that it needed to — his pedigree and seven-year success with Murray State and four prior as its assistant didn’t need some sort of introduction or slideshow. He’s been on multiple lists in the last couple of years, and deservedly so. From developing rolled over talent in Wayne Langston and Jeffrey Moss, to landing one of the greatest recruiting classes in program history, to rolling the OVC 20-0 these last three months, there’s a lot of bullet points.

There’s two schools of thought when addressing his status as MSU’s once and future king.

On one hand, Murray State’s move to the Missouri Valley should bring about another great challenge for McMahon and his staff. It’s a league replete with talent, toting strong chances to produce multi-bid scenarios for both the NCAA Tournament and NIT, and comes with it a really nice profile for television and other media. It’s a unique step in recruiting with new cities opening in the pipeline, and its a chance to bring an even better league into the CFSB Center.

On the other, however, is the tantalizing opportunity of coaching within the Power 5. While many jobs McMahon was listed for filled in the last few days — Florida and Georgia, specifically — there are two jobs that absolutely fit the Oak Ridge, Tennessee native’s recruiting map and put him even closer to his tightly-knit and special family: South Carolina and Mississippi State.

And both fan bases have been lobbying for McMahon. Hard. As hard as Murray State fans have been hoping he stays. A seven-figure contract with the Racers, and considerable extension, would be unheard of for the Racer men’s program, but completely warranted.

I’ve long been of the notion that McMahon has been a “Tennessee-or-bust” kind of guy — simply waiting out until Rick Barnes saunters off into the sunset, and the Volunteers need a guy who would squeeze out orange juice from the hills of Appalachia. He and his family love Murray, and have done nothing but embrace it — even when it didn’t overtly embrace them at times.

Whatever McMahon’s choice is — stay or go — I know it’ll be in the best interest of his family, his friends and his future, and that either path has new achievements in store.

Are Brown and Williams staying?

Again, another subject I’m not comfortable talking about less than 12 hours after the season has ended, but here we are. The constant hum of their next step stays hot like a tuning fork.

Neither have specifically indicated through social media or their public discussions regarding their future as Racers. And following COVID-19, both do have another year of eligibility with the program — should they so choose by spending one year in the Missouri Valley.

But it’s been iterated to me, more than once, that each will likely explore opportunities within the National Basketball Association — better known as the “En Bee Aye” — or perhaps other professional routes, and for a multitude of reasons. (And both did just recently celebrate “Senior Days” on Murray State’s campus.)

No. 1: both Brown and Williams possess a unique and hybrid style of the game that could earn them money. Brown is a do-it-all guard who, at 6-5 and 180 pounds, has a terrific 3-and-D frame so highly sought after at the next level. The OVC’s best-ever 3-point shooter — much like Belmont’s Dylan Windler, Austin Peay’s Terry Taylor and Murray State’s Shaq Buchanan and Darnell Cowart — could immediately contribute in the G-League or be selected late in this summer’s second round of the NBA Draft, and develop accordingly. Williams, meanwhile, is a 6-10 center weighing 245 pounds with a 15-foot jumper, a consistent 3-point shot and a plethora of moves in and around the basket. He can put the ball on the deck and score, as well, and there’s a nice mean streak there if it’s channeled — allowing him to turn to bully-ball if necessary.

No. 2: both Brown and Williams have emptied the tank the last four years, and outside of an even deeper run in the NCAA Tournament, they don’t have much else left to prove. Brown is top-five in school history in multiple categories, while Williams has already posted more than 1,500 career poitns and 800 career rebounds. There’s absolutely zero penalty in seeking out professional opportunities without hiring an agent, and some NBA analysis is almost a certain guarantee for both of these guys.

And No. 3: it certainly bodes well that former teammate and NBA MVP candidate Ja Morant consistently sings their praises as “professionals,” as if he’s their micro-agent. He may be a bit biased since they’re his friends, but the man also knows professional talent when he sees it — and he has little reason to bullshit about something at the sake of his reputation. Morant, like many analysts, sees Brown and Williams as professional players. That’s all I need to know.

A helluva season, that’s for sure. Arguably the best in school history.