MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — Murray State used a dominant second half to pull away from Evansville for an 88-75 men’s basketball victory Saturday at CFSB Center. The Racers, who led 37-36 at halftime, erupted for 51 points after intermission to secure the Missouri Valley Conference win before a crowd of 5,302. The Purple Aces could not keep pace despite a tight first half. KJ Tenner and Roman Domon each scored 20 points to lead Murray State. Tenner added six assists. Evansville’s AJ Casey led all scorers with 19 points. The Racers improved to 20-10 overall. The Purple Aces fell to 6-22.

MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half surge, the Murray State Racers pulled away from the Evansville Purple Aces for an 88-75 victory in Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the CFSB Center. A crowd of 5,302 saw the Racers improve to 20-10 overall, while Evansville fell to 6-22. The contest was tightly contested for the first 25 minutes, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties. Evansville, coming off a 38-point loss earlier in the week, showed early fight. The Purple Aces connected on 7 of their first 13 attempts from 3-point range and took a 36-37 lead into halftime behind balanced scoring from AJ Casey, Leif Moeller and Alex Hemenway. The turning point arrived early in the second half. With Murray State leading 44-42, the Racers unleashed a game-defining 18-5 run over a span of just four minutes and 19 seconds. The burst transformed a two-point edge into a commanding 62-47 advantage with 10:39 remaining, and Evansville never recovered. The run was a showcase of Murray State’s offensive efficiency and Evansville’s mounting struggles. The Racers scored on seven of eight possessions during the stretch, capitalizing on Purple Aces turnovers and cold shooting. KJ Tenner, who finished with a game-high 20 points and six assists, ignited the run with a 3-pointer and a driving layup. Roman Domon, who also scored 20, added a 3-pointer and a driving layup of his own, while Tenner found Mathis Courbon for another triple to cap the surge. Evansville, which had shot 48.3% in the first half, went cold, missing seven of its first nine shots after halftime and committing four costly turnovers that Murray State converted into easy points. The Purple Aces’ offensive structure, which produced only three assists for the entire game, broke down against increased defensive pressure from the Racers, who finished with eight steals. Murray State’s dominance in key statistical areas proved decisive. The Racers attempted 26 free throws, making 24, compared to just six attempts for Evansville. Murray State also won the battle on the glass, securing eight offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points, and outscored Evansville 13-7 in points off turnovers. While Evansville’s shooting from distance kept them afloat early—they finished 12 of 29 from 3-point range—their inability to generate easy baskets inside or get to the foul line ultimately sealed their fate. The Purple Aces were led by Casey with 19 points, Moeller with 17 and Joshua Hughes with 16. For Murray State, the victory solidified its position in the upper tier of the conference standings. The balanced attack saw Courbon add 11 points off the bench and Javon Jackson score 13. The Racers’ 51-point second-half explosion, on 57% shooting from the field, underscored their ability to shift gears and overwhelm an opponent. The game’s most important sequence was undoubtedly the Racers’ explosive 18-5 run to begin the second half. It transformed a narrow halftime margin into a double-digit lead from which Evansville, given its season-long difficulties and lack of offensive answers outside of perimeter shooting, could not mount a credible comeback. The run exemplified the disparity between the two teams in conference play this season and allowed Murray State to comfortably cover the pregame spread as a 14-point favorite. Evansville will look to regroup on the road at Belmont on Wednesday. Murray State concludes its regular season with a road game at Bradley next Sunday.

MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — A struggling Evansville team aims to snap a lengthy skid when it visits a Murray State squad seeking to solidify its standing in the Missouri Valley Conference on Saturday. The Purple Aces (6-21) enter the CFSB Center having lost seven of their last eight games, including a 38-point home defeat to Illinois-Chicago on Wednesday. Evansville’s lone win in that stretch was an 88-80 victory over Illinois State on Feb. 9. The team’s defense has been a persistent issue, allowing an average of 78.1 points per game this season. Guard Trent Hundley will be a player to watch for Evansville. He led the team with 12 points in the loss to UIC, but has been held to single-digit scoring in six of his last seven outings. The Racers (19-10), meanwhile, look to rebound from a 78-61 road loss at Illinois State. Despite recent inconsistency, Murray State has won three of its last five and boasts a potent offense, averaging 77.3 points. They defeated Evansville 79-69 in the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 7. Murray State’s fortunes often hinge on forward Fredrick King. The standout is averaging 15.3 points over his last ten games and recorded a season-high 22 points against Belmont on Jan. 31. His presence in the paint will be a key matchup. This game represents a stark contrast in trajectories. Evansville, long eliminated from conference title contention, is playing for pride and momentum heading into the conference tournament. Murray State, with a winning record and key victories, is jockeying for postseason positioning. A win would give the Racers a season sweep and their 20th victory overall. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the CFSB Center. Murray State holds a significant historical advantage at home in the series.