Murray State Racers at Illinois State Redbirds
· NCAA Men's Basketball
<span class="badge bg-danger" style="font-size: 1.2em; margin: 5px 0;">Final</span>
78 - 72
78 - 72
Murray State holds off Illinois State 78-72, wins 5 in a row
The Racers scored 11 straight and pulled ahead 47-34 early in the second half for its largest lead of the game. The Redbirds closed to 70-68 on William Tinsley's 3, but Jonathan Stark replied with a 3 and the Racers led 75-70 on Jalen Durpree's layup with 1:26 left. Milik Yarbrough's jumper made it a three-point game, but Ja Morant sealed it with three free throws in the final 20 seconds.
Morant scored 15 points with nine rebounds, Stark had 13, and the Racers (6-1) outshot the Redbirds 50 percent to 41 percent.
Yarbrough scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting and Taylor Bruninga added 11 points for Illinois State (4-6).
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 78 - 72 |
| 2nd 0:03 | Ja Morant Defensive Rebound. | 78 - 72 |
| 2nd 0:03 | Milik Yarbrough missed Layup. | 78 - 72 |
| 2nd 0:11 | Taylor Bruninga Defensive Rebound. | 78 - 72 |
| 2nd 0:11 | Ja Morant missed Free Throw. | 78 - 72 |
Statistics
 MUR |
 ILST |
|
|---|---|---|
| 28-56 | FG | 22-54 |
| 50 | Field Goal % | 41 |
| 8-24 | 3PT | 12-31 |
| 33 | Three Point % | 39 |
| 14-16 | FT | 16-20 |
| 88 | Free Throw % | 80 |
| 36 | Rebounds | 28 |
| 8 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| 28 | Defensive Rebounds | 21 |
| 17 | Assists | 13 |
| 2 | Steals | 1 |
| 4 | Blocks | 1 |
| 11 | Turnovers | 9 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 11 | Total Turnovers | 9 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 11 | Points Off Turnovers | 10 |
| 5 | Fast Break Points | 5 |
| 32 | Points in Paint | 16 |
| 20 | Fouls | 17 |
| 13 | Largest Lead | 9 |
Game Information
Venue: CEFCU Arena
Location: Normal, IL
Attendance: 5,150 | Capacity:
Location: Normal, IL
Attendance: 5,150 | Capacity:
2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-4 | - | 26-6 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3 | 21-13 |
| Illinois State | 12-8 | 4 | 23-13 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4 | 20-13 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4 | 19-16 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 23-13 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5 | 18-15 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10 | 14-20 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12 | 11-21 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |