Racers Zoom Past Valpo With Late Game Run

Saturday, February 24

CFSB Center

3 p.m.

Murray State

Valparaiso

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

2/24/2024 7:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

A 20-8 run in the final 7:48 did the trick for the Racers in their third-straight home win

The Murray State Racers produced a 20-8 run in the final 7:48 to vanquish the Valparaiso Beacons Saturday afternoon 80-68 at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.

The Racers (12-17) improved to 9-9 in The Missouri Valley Conference as they host the Belmont Bruins on Senior Day Wednesday to close out the home season at The Bank (Feb. 28).

JaCobi Wood tied his career-high with 24 points (18 in the second half), while Nick Ellington notched his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Rob Perry entered the game for the first time with 12 minutes to play and put up 12 points and five rebounds, while Quincy Anderson scored the Racers' first seven points of the game to finish with 10.

Trailing by eight points at the intermission, the Racers reversed their indifferent day when they took the lead for good on an Ellington dunk at 6:47. The Racers put the game away when they scored on four-straight possessions on a pair of drives by Wood, an Ellington dunk and a drive by Perry to make it 77-64 MSU with 1:47 remaining.

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It's time to think about purchasing tickets to 2024 State Farm Arch Madness (March 7-10) in St. Louis, Missouri. The Enterprise Center is set to host the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament which will be staged in the Gateway City for a 34th consecutive time. Tickets can be purchased through the Murray State ticket office at the CFSB Center, by calling (270) 809-3000 or online through GoRacers.com and TicketMaster.com.

Game Notes

The Racers are 8-7 at home this season and can finish with a winning record at the CFSB Center if they can defeat Belmont Wednesday.
MSU leads the all-time series with Valparaiso 5-3 and have won the last four meetings.
The Racers have won their last three MVC games at home with wins over Evansville, Missouri State and Valparaiso, since a loss to Illinois State (Jan. 30).
Nick Ellington reached the 1000-Point Club today when combining his four-year collegiate career at Meridian (MS) CC, Eastern Illinois and Murray State.
Ellington scored 431 points in two seasons at Meridian (2020-21 & 2021-22), 225 points in one season at Eastern Illinois (2022-23) and this season with the Racers he has 349 points which is his best scoring season, for a career total of 1,005.
Quincy Anderson is closing on the 1,500-point mark in his career between the Racers and Minnesota State. After scoring 10 points today, Anderson has 1,479.
With the win, Coach Steve Prohm now has 230 wins in his 12^th season as a head coach.
In his second era with the Racers, Prohm has 132 wins in his sixth total season as Murray State head coach.
Anderson scored MSU's first seven points and has hit at least one 3-point basket in the last eight games.
MSU was 13-of-13 from the free throw line before they missed and finished 14-of-16.
The announced crowd of 5,807 marks 11th crowd of 5,000 or larger this season for the Racers at the CFSB Center.
MSU is trying to lead the MVC in attendance for a second-straight season. They entered the day with an average of 5,333, just behind league leader Indiana State at 5,334.