Racers On A Roll – Face EIU In Charleston On MLK Day

Opponent: Eastern Illinois Panthers
Site (Venue): Charleston, Ill. (Lantz Arena)
Date/Game Time: Monday, Jan. 17, 2022/3:30 p.m.
Audio: WFGS Froggy 103.7FM (PxP: Neal Bradley Analyst: Kenny Roth)
TV(Live Streaming): None(ESPN+)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com/Coverage
Twitter In Game: @MSURacers
MUR Record (Streak): 14-2, 4-0 (Won 4)
EIU Record (Streak): 2-13, 0-2 (Lost 6)
MUR Last Game: Won 82-60 at Belmont (Jan. 15)
EIU Last Game: Lost 66-53 at home vs SIUE (Jan. 13)
All-Time Series vs. EIU: Racers lead 49-14 (19-9 at EIU)
First Meeting: 1981 Home Racers Won 71-70
Last Meeting: Lost 68-59 -26 Neutral 97-71
Last Five vs EIU: MSU trails 2-5
Next MSU Game: Jan. 20 home vs EIU
Next MSU Road Game: Jan. 27 vs Tennessee Tech

Game 17 Takes Racers To Eastern Illinois For MLK Day Game
Because of Covid's influence on college basketball, the Murray State Racers get a rare opportunity to play a game on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. The Racers (14-2, 4-0 OVC) travel to Charleston to take on the Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-13, 0-2 OVC). Tip time on the national holiday of MLK Day is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lantz Arena. Both MSU and EIU have experienced Covid postponements. This game was originally scheduled for Jan. 6, but was backed up to today. That means EIU and MSU will play twice this week as the Panthers make their trip to Murray this week on Thursday. The Racers are coming off a big win Saturday at Belmont 82-60 and EIU will be playing for the first time since last Thursday (Jan. 13) in a 66-53 loss at home against SIUE.

Racers Look For Reversal
The Racers are looking to snap a three-game losing skid to the Panthers. Prior to the last three meetings, the Racers had won 15-of-18 since 2011, but lately, EIU has had the Racers' number. Part of the reason the Racers had trouble with EIU was Jordan Skipper-Brown. However, he became one of the first players in the OVC to transfer within a conference and he is playing his final season with the Racers in 2021-22. The Racers lead the all-time series with EIU 49-14 and are 27-4 at Lantz Arena.

Justice Hill Brings The Juice
When the Racers defeated Belmont Saturday to stay unbeaten in the early part of the OVC season, there was Justice "Juice" Hill having an amazing night that deserves further investigation. His 36-point night in Nashville is the highest scoring game in the OVC this season as he bested the 34 points Eric Reed, Jr., had against Austin Peay (Jan. 1). Hill was the definition of a player that was on a roll and hardly missed. He was 6-of-6 from the 3-point line in the first half and had 25 points. For the game, he hit 10-of-19 from the field, including 8-of-11 from three point range. He hit eight free throws and dished out three assists. Hill is the 34th Racer in program history to score 36 points or more. MSU's single-game gold standard continues to be the 45 points scored by MSU Hall of Famer, Marcus Brown in 1995 at old Racer Arena against Washington U. of St. Louis. Brown has been a welcome addition to Coach Matt McMahon's staff since he joined the program as Assistant to the Head Coach last summer.

Busy Schedule Continues With Three At The Bank
With a couple of Monday make up days on the schedule, the Racers continue their eight games in 16 days run after the Monday game at EIU. The Racers host three-straight home games this week including EIU visiting the CFSB Center Thursday. UT Martin is town Saturday on Coach Ron Green Day and next Monday (Jan. 24) Tennessee Tech visits for a Monday game.

Racers On A Roll – Face EIU In Charleston On MLK Day

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Players Mentioned

Justice Hill

Jordan Skipper-Brown

Murray State University Athletics