(TERRE HAUTE, Ind.) – Murray State survived a furious second-half rally from Indiana State to secure a 74-72 road victory Wednesday night at Hulman Center, improving to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
The Racers dominated the first half, building a commanding 43-21 halftime advantage behind a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense. Murray State shot an impressive 56.3% from the field in the opening period while holding the Sycamores to just 28.6% shooting.
Junior guard Javon Jackson led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, adding six assists and two steals. Forward Roman Domon contributed 20 points and seven rebounds, while Fredrick King added 13 points despite foul trouble.
“We came out with great energy in the first half,” said Jackson. “We knew we had to weather their run in the second half and stay composed.”
Indiana State (10-16, 3-12) mounted a tremendous comeback after halftime, outscoring the Racers 51-31 in the second period. Camp Wagner sparked the rally with 15 points off the bench, while Enel St. Bernard added 12 points despite shooting struggles from the free-throw line.
The Sycamores cut the deficit to just two points with 12 seconds remaining when St. Bernard converted a dunk, making it 72-74. However, Jackson calmly sank two free throws with 27 seconds left to provide the final margin.
Murray State held a decisive 36-18 advantage in paint points and capitalized on 17 points off turnovers. The Racers also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Indiana State 36-28.
The victory keeps Murray State (19-8, 11-5 MVC) in the thick of the conference race as the regular season enters its final stretch. The Racers return home to face Belmont at 5 p.m. Sunday, looking to build on this hard-fought road win.
PHOTO-David Eaton, MSU Athletics
