Kevin Murphy scores 50 points, most in country this season

January 31, 2012

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Kevin Murphy set the Tennessee Tech

single-game scoring record with 50 points and the Golden Eagles

defeated Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 98-80 Monday night.

Murphy was 16 of 21 from the field, going 6 of 9 from 3-point

range and 12 of 14 from the free-throw line, in breaking John

Best's previous record of 38 points.

Murphy is the first Division I player this season to score 50 or more in a game. The previous high this season was set by Creighton's Doug McDermott, who scored 44 in the Bluejays' win at Bradley on Jan. 7.

Trailing 21-19, Tennessee Tech went on a 14-2 run and led the

rest of the way. Murphy scored 10 points during the spurt,

including the capper on a dunk with 5:08 left in the first half.

The Golden Eagles (14-9, 6-4 Ohio Valley Conference) shot 55

percent from the field (33 of 60) in handing the Cougars their

sixth straight loss.

Javon McKay added 15 points and Zac Swansey had 14 rebounds for

Tennessee Tech.

The Cougars (5-14, 3-7) were led by Jerome Jones with 25 points

and Mark Yelovich with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.