Last season, the Murray State Racers could have been the Cinderella team of the NCAA tournament. They began the tourney with a stunning upset of N.C. State that raised more than a few eyebrows. Their dreams abruptly ended, though, when they were eliminated by eventual champion Kansas . . . by three points.

Four starters returned from that team, and Coach Steve Newton's squad was the preseason favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference. But Austin Peay State, the NCAA darling two years ago, beat the Racers (now 19-10) in the semifinals of the conference tournament, leaving it up to the NIT selection committee to extend their season.

Murray (Ky.) State's post-season chances were renewed Sunday night when it received an NIT bid, pitted against Penn State (19-11) in the first round at 7:30 tonight at Rec Hall.

"We were all disappointed (about not going to the NCAAs), no question about it," Newton said. "We set our goals and orchestrated our season about repeating as conference champs. But we're encouraged to be here; there are only 96 teams still playing."

The Racers' star players, Jeff Martin and Don Mann, don't quite see eye to eye. Oh, they get along well, but Martin is 6' 6" and Mann is 5' 8". Together they compose one of the best inside-outside tandems no one's never heard of.

"From all indications, (Martin is) a first-round draft pick," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "He's definitely the best shooting forward we've seen all year. They have four guys who can shoot the ball well, and Mann has beyond 3-point range."

Martin was invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials and is a bona fide NBA prospect, earning honorable mention All-America status on the strength of his 25.6 scoring average. With 2,457 career points, he is the active scoring leader in Division I. He also happens to connect on more than 50 percent of his attempts from 3-point land.

Mann's play evokes images of Tyrone 'Muggsy' Bogues, a 5-3 guard playing in the NBA. Bogues was an outstanding ballhandler for Wake Forest, much like Mann is for Murray State. Mann hands out nearly six assists a game, while finding time to score 13.2 points.

"We see them as quality players that have established themselves around the country," Newton said. "They played admirably in the NCAA tournament last year. Jeff is a gifted shooter with excellent range, and he has the green light. Don is a point guard who has the ability to make things happen."

Stopping Martin and Mann, however, does not necessarily mean stopping the Racers. A sizable frontcourt provides an inside game that aptly complements the perimeter game, bolstered by sophomore shooting guard Paul King.

Not short on colorful names, Murray State features rotating centers Linzie Foster and Popeye Jones. Foster, a 6-6 senior, joined the team last year as a juco transfer from Midwest Community College and worked his way into the starting lineup this season. Jones, whose real name is Ronald, is a 6-8 freshman who is long on talent. He averages 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game after being named Tennessee Class A Mr. Basketball last year. As a high school senior those averages were 25 and 15.

Chris Ogden, a 6-7 junior, starts alongside Martin at power forward and nets an even 10 points per contest. He and Martin are similar to Penn State's forward combo of Bruce Blake and Tom Hovasse in that one powers the middle while the other signals danger from anywhere.

Doug Gold and Terence Brooks join Jones as the main threats off the bench. Gold adds size --he's a 6-7 forward -- while the 6-2 Brooks adds scoring (7.1 ppg). Newton puts all three in the game for about 16 minutes each, and no one else averages more than four minutes off the bench.

The Lions have a slight height advantage, while the Racers have experience in post-season play. Newton doesn't know if either will be a major factor tonight.

"We've had the opportunity to compete successfully in the NCAA (tourney)," Newton said, "and that's a plus, but not necessarily an advantage. We're also playing (in their arena). Neither team knows much about the other, so I think the team that makes fewer mistakes will win.

"We're at a slight height disadvantage, but we've competed against six teams in the NCAA tournament (including Louisville and Vanderbilt). It doesn't matter how big a player is, it's how big he plays."

Just ask Don Mann.