(MURRAY, Ky.) – The Murray State Racers defeated the Indiana State Sycamores 85-81 on Saturday night, extending their winning streak to 12 consecutive games before an enthusiastic home crowd at the CFSB Center.
The attendance of 8,083 spectators marked a significant milestone for the program, representing the 12th-largest crowd in the venue’s 28-year history and the highest turnout for a Murray State home game since their four-year tenure in the Missouri Valley Conference began.
Javon Jackson led the Racers’ offensive effort with 21 points, continuing his impressive scoring run. Fred King added a double-double performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Mason Miller and Layne Taylor each contributed 13 points to the winning effort.
The Racers, now 16-3 overall and 8-0 in conference play, built a 47-37 halftime advantage after closing the first half with a 14-8 scoring surge. Although Indiana State briefly took a 59-58 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, Murray State responded decisively with a 9-0 run. Jackson scored five points during that stretch, and Taylor added two free throws to give the Racers a commanding eight-point cushion with 8:30 left on the clock.
Taylor’s three-pointer later extended Murray State’s advantage to 11 points with seven minutes to play, helping the Racers maintain control through the final minutes.
The defensive performance was particularly noteworthy, as Murray State recorded 14 blocked shots, matching a program record previously achieved only twice in school history. King swatted away four attempts, while JJ Traynor and Dylan Anderson each contributed three blocks.
Jackson has now made at least one three-pointer in 12 consecutive games, representing the team’s longest such streak this season. The junior guard has reached the 20-point mark in four straight contests and nine times overall this campaign.
The victory was Murray State’s 15th game this season in which they scored at least 80 points first. When reaching that scoring threshold, the Racers have compiled a 15-2 record.
Murray State will take their undefeated conference record on the road next week for matchups against Drake and Northern Iowa. The Racers will return to face Indiana State again on February 12 in Terre Haute.
The last time the CFSB Center hosted a larger crowd was February 24, 2022, when 8,041 fans watched Murray State defeat Belmont 76-43 in the final home game of that season.
PHOTO COURTESY-PROFESSOR DAVID EATON
