Monday’s matchup between University Heights Academy and Murray featured two teams with incomplete rosters.
UHA was missing leading scorer Keshawn Moore, who was ejected in Friday’s loss to South Warren.
Murray was missing five players from the school’s football team that played in the Class 3A state championship over the weekend.
However, the Tigers overcame their absence by knocking down 18 three-pointers in a 93-53 win at Blazer Gym. The 18 threes is believed to be a school record and the most by a First Region school. That’s according to the KHSAA record book; however, it hasn’t been updated in two years.
Murray broke open a close game early with back-to-back 3-pointers that began a 14-0 run that extended the lead to 19-6.
The Tigers hit six three-pointers in the opening frame as Moore scored 11 points and Wyatt added 10.
Murray’s pressure defense wreaked havoc on the Blazers, who turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter and finished with 23.
Murray hit five more 3-pointers in the second quarter as they built a 53-20 lead by halftime.
Henri Acreman-Nyamwala hit a 3-pointer with 6:37 left in the third quarter to push the Tigers’ lead to 57-20 and trigger the running clock.
Maddox Mitchell and Harris Moore each hit five 3-pointers and scored 18 points apiece for the Tigers.
Ryan Luckey hit a trio of three-pointers and finished with 19 points and five rebounds. Hayden Hunt had six points and four rebounds, and Jaiden Miles added four points and six rebounds.
Murray outrebounded UHA 42-25 and scored 31 second-chance points.
The Tigers have won two straight against the Blazers and six of the last eight meetings.
The setback is UHA’s first 50-point loss in at least the last 25 years.
Murray will host Fulton City on Tuesday, while UHA will open district play on Thursday at Heritage Christian Academy.
Murray 26 27 19 21– 93
University Heights 10 10 13 10– 43
Murray (1-1) – Mitchell 18, Moore 18, Acreman-Nyamwala 13, Wyatt 12, Parker 8, Armstrong 8, Poyner 5, Morris 5, Etherton 3, Burkeen 3
University Heights (0-2) – Luckey 19, Hickman 6, Hunt 6, Miles 4, Sharber 3, Hallmark 2, Flynn 1, McAfee 1, Quarles 1
