Road Racers - Snap Drake's 28-Game Home Winning Streak

Sunday, January 5

Des Moines, Iowa

2 p.m.

Murray State

8-7,2-2MVC

Drake

12-2,2-2MVC

Murray St.

Drake

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Road Racers - Snap Drake's 28-Game Home Winning Streak

1/5/2025 5:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

The Racers scored a big road win on Sunday in Des Moines to even their MVC record at 2-2

The Murray State Racers stopped the Drake Bulldogs' 28-game home winning streak Sunday at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa in a 66-59 victory.

The Racers (8-7) evened their mark in the Missouri Valley Conference at 2-2 as they play at Northern Iowa on Wednesday. The 6 p.m. tip happens at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls.

In recording their second road win of the season, the Racers were led by a MSU-best 20 points from Terence Harcum on 4-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line, while Kylen Milton added 15 points with a pair of threes. In his return to the staring lineup, Nick Ellington led the Racers with a game-high eight rebounds.

Coming out of halftime, the Racers clawed their way to a tie game 26-26 even though they had more turnovers (10) than field goals (9). However, the Racers limited Drake's Bennett Stirtz, the leading scorer in the MVC, to 1-of-6 from the field in the first half for four points.

When Milton scored on a run-out dunk a little more than six minutes into the second half, the Racers had a 9-0 run and a nine point lead at 13:47. Harcum and Justin Morgan scored and the Racers had their largest lead of the game of 12 points (46-34) with 10:04 left.

The Bulldogs rallied and took the lead by a point with 2:09 left, but the Racers wrestled the lead away from Drake for the final time when Harcum buried a 3-pointer at :59 for a 62-59 advantage.

Game Notes

The Racers claim their second road win of the season after also winning at Middle Tennessee (Nov. 16).
MSU is 2-3 on the road this season and win their road opener in the MVC season.
The win also ended the Racers' 5-game MVC road losing skid, dating back to their last win at UNI last February.
Drake's 28-game home win streak was the best in program history and it was the second-longest streak in NCAA DI, behind the 30 in a row that Houston currently has.
The win is MSU's first at Drake in three visits to the Knapp Center.
The Racers managed to survive the first with a tie game (26-26) even though they had more turnovers (10), than field goals (9).
Racers defended Bennett Stirtz well for game in limited him to 13 points on 4-of-12FG, 0-3 3PT and 5-5FT.
MSU had a solid second half from the free throw line going 11-of-14 and making their last five to seal the win.
The Racers scored 40 points to get the win in the second half, just the third time this season Drake had given 40 or more points in a half.
Miami (Nov. 21) and UIC (Jan . 1) each scored 42 on the Bulldogs in the second half.
The Racers have won their last seven games when they hold the opponent to less than 60 points.
MSU's last loss in this case was at Austin Peay 53-49 (Dec. 9, 2023).
MSU's 55 percent shooting today (22-of-40) marks their second-best field goal percentage game (.550) behind only the MTSU game when they made 32-of-52 from the field for a clip of .615.
Harcum has hit a 3-point basket in all 15 games for the Racers.
Harcum hit four 3-pointers today, his season-high is five vs Utah Valley (Nov. 22).
Milton has hit 9-of-13 from the field in the last two games against Illinoi State and Drake for 33 points.
Nick Ellington tied his season-high with eight rebounds against Drake.
He also grabbed eight boards (Dec. 8) at home against SEMO.
JaCobi Wood is closing on 1,500 career points as he has 1,488 after eight points today.
Kylen Milton is also getting close to 1,500 points and he has 1,459 points after scoring 15 points today.
Terence Harcun is looking to get to the 1,000-point mark in his career and has 983 after scoring 20 points at Drake.
The Racers were 20-of-26 (.769) from the free throw line marking a third-straight game of making at least 20 and their seventh of the season.
The Racers lead the MVC in free throw attempts (358), but are ninth in percentage (.698).

The Murray State Hall of Fame inducts the 42nd class Jan. 17 at the CFSB Center. Tickets to the awards dinner are on sale at GoRacers.com. The class will also be recognized (Jan. 18) when the MSU men's basketball team hosts Bradley. The 2024 class includes: Daniel Calhoun (Baseball, 2006-09), Becca Lamb (Volleyball, 2007-10), Coach Velvet Milkman (Women's Golf, 1993-22), Miyah Watford (Women's Soccer, 2017-19), Quincy Williams (Football, 2014-18) and Jack Wolf (Football, 1967-71). Ja Morant (MBB, 2017-19) was inducted last summer at Racer Hoopalooza.

Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).