The Murray State Racers suffered a 74-61 defeat to the Bradley Braves on Saturday at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky on Saturday,Jan. 18.

Despite the loss, the Racers had five players finish in double-figure scoring. AJ Ferguson led the way with 12 points, while Kylen Milton and JaCobi Wood each contributed 11 points. Nick Ellington and Alden Applewhite each added 10 points to the scoring effort.

The Racers started strong in the first half, connecting on five consecutive shots to fuel a 13-3 run, which gave them an 18-15 lead at the 11:25 mark. However, the Braves responded with a decisive 15-2 run, spanning the final three minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. That run allowed Bradley to take their largest lead of the game at 50-39 with 14:25 remaining.

Murray State made a push to get back into the game, cutting the deficit to seven points at 65-58 with 5:25 left. This was thanks to a pair of baskets from Milton and a driving layup from Terence Harcum. However, the Racers could not close the gap any further, ultimately falling to 5-3 at home this season.

With the loss, the Racers dropped to 10-9 on the season and 4-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Murray State will look to bounce back on Jan. 22 Wednesday as they travel to Carbondale, Illinois, to face Southern Illinois. They return to The Bank on Saturday, January 25, to host Belmont.