Murray State Racers at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
· NCAA Men's Basketball
70 - 68
No. 19 Murray State rallies to preserve perfect OVC season
Murray State is the sixth team in OVC history to go undefeated in conference play. It is the first to go 18-0, with the conference expanded its league schedule by two games this season. The Racers were also the last OVC team to go unbeaten in conference play during the 2014-15 season.
This season's 18-game winning streak came entirely in conference play after a 71-58 loss to then-No. 12 Auburn on Dec. 22. The Racers' other loss came against East Tennessee State, 66-58 on Nov. 22.
KJ Williams had 23 points and eight rebounds for Murray State (28-2, 18-0), and Trae Hannibal scored a career-high 20 points. Tevin Brown had 15, and Hill finished with 11.
Manny Patterson, a second-year transfer from Green Bay, scored each of his 12 points in the first half, helping Southeast Missouri (13-17, 8-9) to a 37-32 lead.
The Racers had to overcome a 12-point deficit in the final 6 1/2 minutes. They got a lift from a six-point possession triggered by a flagrant foul on Nana Akenten away from the ball as Williams was scoring with just over three minutes remaining.
DJ Burns made 1 of 2 free throws resulting from the foul and Hill hit a 3-pointer to get within a point. A turnover then turned into fast-break basket for Hill and Murray State had its first lead since midway through the first half.
Hill added a 3-pointer and free throw in the final minute and Hannibal made another free throw for a five-point edge with 15.3 seconds left. Eric Reed Jr. hit a 3 to cut the lead to two and, after a missed Hill free throw, Chris Harris missed a running shot from just inside midcourt as the game ended.
Murray has won 10 straight in the series, including a 106-81 win on Dec. 30.
As the top seed, Murray State receives a double-bye into Friday's semifinals of the OVC tournament, which runs Wednesday through Saturday in Evansville, Indiana.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 70 - 68 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 70 - 68 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Murray State Defensive Rebound. | 70 - 68 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Chris Harris missed Three Point Jumper. | 70 - 68 |
| 2nd 0:03 | Foul on Justice Hill. | 70 - 68 |
Statistics
 MUR |
 SEMO |
|
|---|---|---|
| 26-60 | FG | 26-52 |
| 43 | Field Goal % | 50 |
| 5-20 | 3PT | 10-25 |
| 25 | Three Point % | 40 |
| 13-19 | FT | 6-10 |
| 68 | Free Throw % | 60 |
| 30 | Rebounds | 32 |
| 9 | Offensive Rebounds | 5 |
| 21 | Defensive Rebounds | 27 |
| 6 | Assists | 14 |
| 6 | Steals | 7 |
| 3 | Blocks | 5 |
| 11 | Turnovers | 17 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 11 | Total Turnovers | 17 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 2 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 2 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 22 | Points Off Turnovers | 8 |
| 8 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 36 | Points in Paint | 26 |
| 11 | Fouls | 16 |
| 5 | Largest Lead | 13 |
Game Information
Location: Cape Girardeau, MO
Attendance: 2,934 | 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 |
2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 15-5 | - | 23-10 |
| Morehead State | 15-5 | - | 20-13 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 14-6 | 1 | 20-13 |
| UT Martin | 13-7 | 2 | 22-11 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 12-8 | 3 | 19-13 |
| Lindenwood | 11-9 | 4 | 18-15 |
| Little Rock | 9-11 | 6 | 12-20 |
| Tennessee Tech | 8-12 | 6 | 13-18 |
| Eastern Illinois | 8-12 | 7 | 13-20 |
| Southern Indiana | 4-16 | 11 | 7-23 |
| Western Illinois | 1-19 | 14 | 5-26 |