Racers dealt first home loss, 70-65 by Illinois State

 Murray State posted their first home loss of the season with a 70-65 defeat Wednesday night to the Illinois State Redbirds, compounding a Racer 3-game losing skid.

Fred King shook off a slow start in the first half and led the Racers with 19 points and 11 rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season. Javon Jackson added 15 points.

The Racers were held to a season-low 29 first half points on 37 percent from the field and finished the game at 38 percent, which included 4-of-22 from the 3-point line for 18 percent.

Even so, the Racers clawed back to tie the game in the opening minutes of the second half, then kept it a two-possession deficit for much of the final action. 

Chase Walker paced ISU (15-7, 7-4) with 21 points.

The Racers (16-6) fell to 8-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference and out of a share of first place with the Belmont Bruins. (9-2) ahead of the two teams' Saturday night showdown at the Curb Center in Nashville at 7 p.m.

Other key home games still to come include UIC (Feb. 3), UNI (Feb. 9), Belmont (Feb. 15) and Evansville (Feb. 21).


(Photo David Eaton/MSU Athletics)