Racers Host Illinois State At The Bank

MSU Game Notes I Illinois State Game Notes I Live Stats I OVC Digital Network I Froggy103.com

Date-Time: Dec. 20, 3 p.m.
Site: Murray, Ky.
Arena: CFSB Center (8,600)
TV: None
Radio: Racer Radio - WFGE 103.7 FM PXP: Neal Bradley Analyst: Kenny Roth
Web Streaming: Audio: GoRacers.com & Froggy103.com Video: OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Live Stats: MurrayState.StatBroadcast.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersHoops @RacerDave23
Series: MSU leads 1-0 Home: MSU leads 1-0 Away: None Neutral: None
First Meeting: 1971, MSU won H 85-74

The Murray State Racers carry a five-game win streak into their second to last game before Christmas when they host the Illinois State Redbirds the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky. The Racers and Redbirds tip at 3 p.m. after the Racer women host Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

All Murray State games are heard over free radio on WFGE Froggy 103.7 FM and online at Froggy103.com and GoRacers.com. Neal Bradley is in his 24th season as the Voice of the Racers. Former MSU assistant coach Kenny Roth provides analysis. Free online video streaming is available at OVCDigitalNetwork.com.

The Racers (7-4) have consecutively defeated Drake, Bethel, Western Kentucky, Evansville and Alcorn State. Cameron Payne scored a career-high 32 points in the win at UE last Saturday, then Jarvis Williams and T.J. Sapp led the way over Alcorn State Wednesday with 22 and 21 points. The Racers have been shooting the ball very well and are 60 percent from the 3-point line in the last four games on 46-of-76 shots.

Illinois State (6-3) is also on a win streak of three straight with victories over UAB, DePaul and UT Martin. The game with ISU is MSU's third game this season against Missouri Valley Conference teams with another one to come on Monday when they visit Southern Illinois.

The Racers enjoy one of the best home-court advantages in all of basketball as they play in their 17th season at the CFSB Center. This season MSU is 4-1 at home. They lost the season-opener to Houston, but have since defeated Brescia, Bethel and Western Kentucky and Alcorn State, which was their 200th at The Bank.

After falling out of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll after they lost at Xavier (Nov. 24), the Racers got 20 votes this week in the poll but didn't crack the top-15. MSU opponents Belmont, Valparaiso and Evansville are ranked 10th, 11th and 14th.

Sophomore Cameron Payne was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for a second-straight week for what he did in the win at Evansville. The OVC Preseason Player of the Year, Payne is on the preseason watch lists for the Bob Cousy and Lou Henson awards.

MSU's remarkable home court advantage has spanned not only the 17 years in the CFSB Center, but before that, the Racers held a 78 percent win rate at Racer Arena for 44 seasons. Additionally, MSU had win rates of more than 80 percent at Carr Health Building and Lovett Auditorium. In all, MSU's all-time home success reads 943-229 (.803). The Racers are 200-34 at the CFSB Center after Wednesday's win over Alcorn State. The Racers are 44-7 at home in the Prohm era.

The 80-point mark is magic mark for the Racers. In the Prohm era MSU is 32-3 when reaching 80. All three losses came last season.

12-06-14    Belmont    L    A   99-96
12-01-14    SE Missouri 2OT    L   A    118-115
03-07-14    #Eastern Kentucky    L   N    86-83

The last game on this list came at the OVC Tournament semifinals in Nashville last March.

Cameron Payne and Jarvis Williams have accomplished more than most in the 45 games they've suited up for the Racers. They've combined for 29 games of 20-point scoring. Williams has 18 double-doubles and has led the Racers in rebounding 32 times, while Payne has been MSU's leading assister 40 times. In those 45 games, they've combined for 1,455 points, 579 rebounds and 284 assists.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cameron Payne

T.J. Sapp

Jarvis Williams

Murray State University