Racers Push Win Streak to Three in Home Win over Beacons

Saturday, January 11

Murray, Ky.

3 p.m.

Murray State

Valparaiso

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Racers Push Win Streak to Three in Home Win over Beacons

1/11/2025 8:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Racers have now won three in a row twice in the 2024-25 season

The Murray State Racers pushed their winning streak to three Saturday with a 58-47 victory over the Valparaiso Beacons at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.

The Racers (10-7) improved to 4-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference as they continue to hold a share of second place.

Murray State hits the road Wednesday (Jan. 15) for a game against the UIC Flames at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago in a 7 p.m. tip off. MSU comes home (Jan. 18) to host the Bradley Braves at 3 p.m. on MSU Hall of Fame weekend when the 42^nd class is honored at the game.

In game where rebounding, free throw shooting and defensive stops were as good as gold, the Racers showed they can win a game in The Valley that isn't pretty and the kind of game that goes to the tougher team.

Starting fast by hitting six of their first 10 shot attempts, the Racers jumped in front 13-4 and led 26-21 at the halftime intermission.

In the second half, the Racers had three chances to take their first double-digit lead, but failed. Maybe the fourth time is the charm? The Racers finally got the run they wanted and pushed to a 13-point lead with 6:00 remaining on Alden Applewhite's 3-pointer. Applewhite sealed the game with 1:45 left with a three-point play for a 56-44 lead. The Racers only trailed one time and ended up playing from the lead in just more than 37 minutes.

Nick Ellington led the way for MSU with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a team-best eight rebounds. Terence Harcum, who became a 1,000-points career scorer in the game when he added 11 points, all in the second half.

Game Notes

The Racers won a rare game when shooting a low percentage – tonight .340 from the field tonight on 18-of-53.
Since 1999, in games where MSU shot 34 percent or less, they've now won for just the seventh time in 28 instances.
MSU's last win when shooting 34 percent or lower was in 2019 at UT Martin 62-60 when they shot .339 (20-of-59).
MSU's lowest field goal percentage since 1999 and it still become a victory in the game was in 2010 OVC Tournament when the Racers shot .322 (19-of-59) and still beat Eastern Illinois 55-51.
MSU won the rebound battle 41-35 and are 8-1 this season when they out-rebound their opponent.
The Racers lived at the line and Valparaiso didn't.
MSU outscored the Beacons from the free throw line 18-2.
Terence Harcum (3 seasons at Appalachian State and one at Murray State) reached the 1000-Point milestone when he hit his first field goal of the game, a 3-pointer with 14:47 remaining.
JaCobi Wood reached the 1500-Point mark in his career (2 seasons at Belmont and 3 at Murray State) with his first field goal only 2:00 into the game.
Wood is also chasing down a spot on the Murray State 1000-Point Club as he how has 964 points in 81 games with the Racers in three seasons.
In two career games against Valparaiso, Nick Ellington has scored 29 points (14.5ppg) and has made 11-of-17 from the field for a clip of .647.
If the Racers can win at UIC next week, they'll match their best winning streak in the second era of Coach Steve Prohm.
Last season in 2023-24, the Racers won four in a row with wins over: MTSU, UIC, Evansville and Missouri State.
The Racers will be looking for their first win streak of four with all of the wins being MVC games.