Isaiah Canaan scored 18 points to help Murray State remain undefeated with a 70-59 victory over Western Kentucky on Thursday night.
The junior guard, who averaged 25.3 points in three wins by the Racers (8-0) last week at the Great Alaska Shootout, scored 13 of his points in the first half, when Murray State took a 40-28 lead. Latreze Mushatt came off the bench to score all nine of his points for the Racers in the first half.
The Hilltoppers (2-6) got within 47-44 with 9:39 remaining after a 12-1 run that included four baskets by Jamal Crook, who finished with 20 points.
Murray State answered by scoring nine of the next 10 points, four by Ivan Aska, to lead 56-45 with 4:58 left.
Aska finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the Racers, who have won their first eight games for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
