The Murray State Racers capped off their inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Conference with a thrilling 77-65 overtime victory against the Valparaiso Beacons in their final home game at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky. The victory secured a winning season for the Racers, who finished the year with a record of 16-14 and a conference record of 11-9. The team will now prepare for the MVC Tournament in St. Louis, where they will face off against Valparaiso once again in the first round on Thursday.
DJ Burns led the way for the Racers with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Quincy Anderson came off the bench to score 15 points. JaCobi Wood contributed 13 points and five assists, and Brian Moore, Jr. added 11 points. The game was a closely contested battle that saw the Racers come back from a 12-point deficit to take the lead at halftime. With the game tied at 65-65 in the final seconds, Wood hit a clutch 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.
The Racers struggled during a stretch where they missed 10 consecutive shots, but they managed to rally and hit five straight baskets in overtime to secure the win. With just five seconds left on the clock and the game tied at 76-76, Moore was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. He hit the first of his two free throws, giving the Racers the win in front of a home crowd of 5,342.
In addition to securing a winning season, the victory against Valparaiso marked the Racers’ 11th win at home this season, with a record of 25-11 in the CFSB Center. The team has never had a losing season in their home stadium and is 313-51 overall. The Racers have also been successful in overtime play, winning six of their last eight games that have gone into extra time. This season, the team has won all three of their overtime games, including two against Valparaiso.
The game against Valparaiso was also Senior Day, and the Racers honored DJ Burns and Rod Thomas on the floor before the game. After the game, the duo and coach Steve Prohm spoke to the crowd in a post-game celebration. The Racers’ success this season was also reflected in their attendance, with an average of 5,200 fans per game, leading the MVC in attendance.
As the Racers prepare for the upcoming MVC Tournament, they will be looking to build on their momentum and carry their winning season into the postseason. With a talented squad and a dedicated fanbase, the Racers will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament and continue to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the MVC.
