Murray State player’s mother killed as team about to depart for NCAA tournament

Tourney-bound Murray St player’s mom dies in crash

MURRAY, Ky. — The mother of Murray State reserve guard Picasso Simmons has been killed in a car crash on the eve of the team’s departure for the NCAA tournament.

Murray State spokesman Dave Winder says Freeda Simmons died Monday morning in the crash in Nashville, Tenn. Her son is planning to go to the Racers’ first-round game Thursday against Vanderbilt in San Jose, Calif. The team is leaving Tuesday.

Winder says Simmons’ mother, who ran track at Murray in the early 1980s, was happy the team made the tournament, and he wants to honor her by being at the game.

Picasso Simmons saw limited time in seven games for the Racers, who went 30-4 and won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.