(CHAMPAIGN, Ill.) — The Murray State Racers encountered a tough challenge on the road Tuesday, dropping an 84-64 decision to the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center.
The contest, played before 14,361 fans, saw the Big Ten squad take command early and never relinquish control. Illinois (3-1) jumped ahead 25-16 after the opening period and extended their advantage to 47-30 by intermission. The Fighting Illini continued to build their cushion in the third quarter, entering the final frame with a 67-46 lead.
Murray State (2-2) showed resilience in the fourth quarter, matching Illinois nearly bucket-for-bucket with an 18-17 scoring edge in the period, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.
Offensive Bright Spots
Despite the loss, the Racers received strong individual performances from their top trio. Keslyn Secrist paced Murray State with 17 points on efficient 6-of-10 shooting from the floor while converting 5-of-6 attempts at the charity stripe.
Halli Poock knocked down three shots from beyond the arc en route to a 15-point performance, while Sharnecce Currie-Jelks registered a double-figure scoring night with 14 points. Currie-Jelks also controlled the glass for the Racers, pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.
Game Flow
The competitive nature of the early going was evidenced by three lead changes and three ties before Illinois seized control. The Fighting Illini’s bench unit provided a significant spark, chipping in 23 points in the winning effort.
Both squads capitalized equally on opponent miscues, each recording 15 points off turnovers in the evenly-matched category.
Murray State returns home Saturday at 2pm to play UAB as they continue their non-conference schedule before Missouri Valley Conference play begins in late December.
Photo Courtesy of Clay Wagoner-MSU Athletics
