Racers Take MVC Opener Over Drake

Thursday, December 18

Murray, Ky.

7 p.m.

Murray State

9-3,1-0MVC

Drake

6-6,0-1MVC

Drake

Murray St.

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

12/18/2025 10:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Racers win for the eighth-straight time at home

Murray State Racers won their Missouri Valley Conference opener for a fourth-straight time Thursday when they pushed past the Drake Bulldogs 81-72 at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.

The Racers (9-3) have won five-straight games overall and moved their home win streak to eight as they hit the road Sunday for a 1 p.m. Central Time game at Valparaiso.

Fred King posted his second double-double in the Murray State uniform with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Layne Taylor and Javon Jackson scored 15 and 11 points. Mason Miller added 10 points as he and Taylor combined to hit six of MSU's nine 3-point baskets.

In the first half, the Racers trailed by a point at 7:58 when they got the game pace to their liking and hit the Bulldogs with a 13-4 run, punctuated by a rebound and score by King. With 3:22 left, King found Brayden Shorter for a corner three for a nine-point lead and the Racers took a 36-30 lead at the intermission.

With 3:09 remaining, King gave the Racers a boost when he drove under the backboard for a reverse dunk and the next time down the floor, he added a three-point play to put MSU up by 12 at 74-62 with 2:15 left.

Game Notes

King produced his second double-double at MSU following his 24pts/10reb game against Nicholls (Nov. 15).
Ranked No. 55 in 3-point shooting by Kenpom.com, the Racers held Drake to a season-low three 3-pointers and percentage of .188 on 3-of-9.
Dylan Anderson hit his fourth 3-pointer of the season and is now 4-of-11 on the season.
The Racers are now 9-2 this season when scoring 80 points or more with wins over Omaha, MVSU, Nicholls, Little Rock, GWU, Morehead State, Bellarmine, Akron and now Drake.
MSU outscored Drake from the free throw line 26-17 and 9-3 from the 3-point line.
The Racers have won four-straight MVC openers since joining the league in 2022 and all have come at the CFSB Center.
MSU has wins over Illinois State (70-67 in 2022), Bradley (79-72 in 2023) and Evansville (63-61 in 2024).
The Racers win for the first time in three home games against the Bulldogs.

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