The Murray State men’s basketball team makes its first foray into the Missouri Valley Conference as the league announced the 2022-23 regular season schedule Thursday from the home office in St. Louis, Missouri.
With an ambitious 20-game schedule, The Valley will play two league games before Christmas. The Racers’ first MVC game is at home in the CFSB Center against Illinois State (Dec. 1) and their first road game is at Valparaiso (Dec. 4). After the Racers play their final non-conference game of the season at Middle Tennessee (Dec. 21), The Valley challenge ramps up again with the Racers hosting Southern Illinois (Dec. 29). New Year’s Day finds MSU playing at the Ford Center against the Evansville Aces.
The rest of January is highlighted by home games with Bradley (Jan. 4), UIC (Jan. 14), Indiana State (Jan. 21) and Missouri State (Jan. 28). MSU’s first trip to the Hawkeye State means games Northern Iowa and Drake on Jan. 7 & 10. January sees the Racers’ rivalry with the Belmont Bruins continue in a new conference with the first of two meetings in Nashville (Jan. 17).
February is an eight-game sprint to the finish for the Racers with Belmont visiting Murray (Feb. 1) and Drake, Evansville and Valparaiso visiting the CFSB Center on Feb. 7, 18 & 26. Road games include the Racers playing at Bradley and Illinois State (Feb. 11 & 15) and at Indiana State and Missouri State (Feb. 4 & 21). The regular season finale for the Racers is at home against Valparaiso (Feb. 26).
All 12 teams converge in St. Louis (March 2-5) for the State Farm MVC Tournament at the Enterprise Center. The event means Arch Madness will be held in St. Louis for a 33rd consecutive season.
The Racers released its non-conference schedule last week. It features a season opener at Saint Louis (Nov. 7), an appearance at the Myrtle Beach Invitational (Nov. 17-20) and the continuation of the Battle of the Border rivalry with Austin Peay (Dec. 16).
Racer Nation gets a first look at both Murray State basketball teams at Racer Mania – Presented by the Murray Bank (Oct. 20). The event is free and begins at 6 p.m. at the CFSB Center.
Murray State – MVC Schedule Notes
o The Racers are 18-9 all-time vs the current MVC lineup at home in the CFSB Center. MSU has never met Bradley, Drake and Northern Iowa at home.
o Northern Iowa is the only team in the current MVC lineup that the Racers have never met at home or on the road.
o Evansville and Southern Illinois are the two Valley teams the Racers have met the most. MSU has played the Purple Aces 39 times and they have met the Salukis 38 times.
o The 2022-23 season is the 25th for the Racers at the CFSB Center.
o In 90 conference games in 2021-22, the MVC had 27 close games, the most in the league in 20 years. Close games are defined by a one score game or one that went into overtime.
o The MVC had 13 overtime league games in 2021-22, the most in the league in at least 50 seasons, since 1972-73.
o Next spring will mark the 33rd consecutive season in which the State Farm MVC Tournament has been held in St. Louis.
o The 2022-23 season marks the first time the MVC has ever had 12 teams and the first time they have welcomed three new members in the same year as the Racers, Belmont and UIC come on board.
Blue & Gold Fridays
Of course, any day is a good day to wear Murray State colors, but Blue & Gold Fridays are a great way to show our unity in Racer Nation, especially as Murray State enters the Missouri Valley Conference in the 2022-23 school year. Wear your Murray State colors and share photos to the social media channels of the Racers. Need some Murray State gear to wear? Just visit the online store. All of Racer Nation agrees, the Murray State unique combination of blue and gold is probably the best-looking color combo you can find!
Racers Rally Program
Murray State Athletics launched the Racers Rally program, a great way for businesses to become partners with the Racers to be part of Racer Nation. Membership for the Racer Rally program is free and businesses can sign up online. Benefits of joining the Racer Rally Program include: yard signs, team schedule posters and window stickers. Murray State Athletics will deliver promotional items to each business that participates in the Racer Rally program. Sign Up
Jordan Smith Concert – CFSB Center
Murray State Athletics and the CFSB Center are proud to announce that The Voice Winner and Kentucky Native, Jordan Smith, will bring his talents to the CFSB Center on Saturday, September 17, 2022. The concert is being organized by KentuckyCare as part of their Hope, Healing, & Restore Concert Series. Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and musician from Harlan, Kentucky. Smith began singing in his church choir and continued through his college education at Lee University. Tickets start at $20 and are available on TicketMaster.com.
2022 Hall of Fame Dinner & Program
The annual Hall of Fame dinner is on the night of Nov. 11 at the CFSB Center. The 2022 class will also be recognized Nov. 12 at the Racer football game against Robert Morris (1 p.m. kick off) and a men’s basketball game against Lindsey Wilson at 7 p.m.. Hall of Fame dinner tickets may be purchased through the MSU ticket office online at GoRacers.com.
About Murray State Athletics
Located in Murray, Kentucky, the athletics department of Murray State University is a NCAA Division I member and plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Racers have 15 programs including men’s teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, football and golf and women’s teams for basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball, as well as a mixed gender rifle team. The Racers became members of the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2022. The Racers will become a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023. The MSU rifle program competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.
About Murray State University
Since 1922, Murray State University has provided a collaborative, opportunity-rich living and learning community that fosters personal growth and professional success through a high-quality college experience. Students receive support from inspiring faculty and staff and will join a distinctive campus community — the Racer Family. With nearly 10,000 students, Murray State prepares the next generation of leaders to join more than 80,000 successful alumni who make a difference in their community, across the country and around the world. We are Racers. The University’s main campus is located in Murray, Kentucky, and includes five regional campuses in Ft. Campbell, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville and Paducah.
About the Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference — the nation’s second-oldest NCAA Division I conference celebrates its 116th season in 2022-23. For the first time, the MVC will have 12 members as Belmont, UIC, and Murray State officially joined the Conference on July 1, 2022. It marks the first time the Conference has admitted three schools for the same season. Notably, MVC membership will stand at a league-high 12 members for the first time. League members include Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, UIC, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Murray State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Valparaiso. Little Rock is an affiliate member in women’s swimming and diving; and SIU Edwardsville is an affiliate member in men’s soccer. The seeds for the creation of the Conference were planted by eight administrators representing five institutions, who met at the Midland Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 12, 1907. The five schools which formed the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association were Washington University of St. Louis, and the state universities of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Two months after the initial meeting, two more schools — Drake University and Iowa State College — were admitted. While The Valley no longer sponsors football (it did from 1907-85), seven league members compete in the sport at the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) level as Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, UNI and Southern Illinois play in the 11-member Missouri Valley Football Conference (with North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Western Illinois and Youngstown State). That league competed as the Gateway Conference from 1985-2007.
Dave Winder
Associate AD – Communications
Murray State University Athletics
