Racers Push Win Streak To Six In Illinois State Win

Saturday, December 20

CFSB Center

3 p.m.

Murray State

7-4

Illinois State

6-3

Illinois St.

Murray St.

Photo by: Tab Brockman

12/20/2014 7:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Murray State Racers won for the sixth straight time Saturday in an 89-74 win over Illinois State. The Racers have won five straight at home in the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

MSU (8-4) got 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots from Jarvis Williams, while Cameron Payne scored 20 points in the final 25-plus minutes after getting his first hoop at 4:40 in the first half. Jeffery Moss and Justin Seymour were 10-of-18 from the field as they finished with 14 and 13 points. Tyler Rambo provided eight points off the bench in 14 minutes.

The Racers are 33-3 in the Coach Steve Prohm era and winners of four straight when they reach the 80-point mark.

The Racers grabbed their largest lead of the first half at 8:56 on a Williams rebound and put-back.

Payne got on the board with three straight field goals starting at the 2:48 mark, when he hit a transition jumper. The Racers led ISU 35-33 at 2:21.

However, the Racers would have to make a comeback when ISU ended the half on a 9-2 run to lead 42-37.

MSU started the second half with a 13-4 run to lead 51-46 when Jonathan Fairell hit a pair of free throws at 15:08.

Rambo scored four points in a MSU 7-1 run and the lead went to double-digits at the 7:00 mark 73-62.

MSU put the game away on a Payne to Williams dunk for an 82-71 lead at 2:33.

MSU shot the ball extremely well in going 31-of-54 for 57 percent. They were even better in the second half in hitting 17-of-27 shots for 60 percent.

Game Notes

Payne and Williams have six 20-point scoring games this season.

Prohm is now 83-27 in his fourth season at Murray State. His winning percentage is

Today's five-point half time deficit for the Racers marks their best comeback after trailing at the half this season.

With the win, MSU is 5-1 at home this season and a five-game run since losing on opening day to Houston (Nov. 14). MSU is an amazing 45-7 at home in the Prohm era. MSU is 83-12 in 17 seasons of non-conference games at the CFSB Center.

When the Racers get to 80 points, they've been a near lock to win. MSU is now 6-0 this season and 33-3 in the Prohm era.

In the last two games, MSU has out-rebounded Alcorn State and Illinois State a combined 70-54. It's the first time this season that MSU has won the rebound stat in back-to-back games against D-I teams.

MSU's Cameron Payne is well on his way to joining the MSU 1000-Point Club. With his 20 points today, he now has 798. Teammates Jarvis Williams and Jeffery Moss are also in the conversation now with 693 and 691.

The Racers have a short turn-around before they play Monday at Southern Illinois. The game at the SIU Arena tips at 7:05 p.m. in what is MSU's first visit to the Salukis home court since 2006. The Racers defeated the Salukis at home last season 73-65. SIU has won 6-of-8, with MSU's wins coming at home. MSU will be looking for their first win at SIU since 1990. The game will be MSU's fourth this season against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference. MSU defeated Drake in Nashville 68-69 (Nov. 30), Evansville 81-79 (Dec. 13) on the road and today handled Illinois State at home.