In their only scheduled meeting of the 2024-25 regular season, Murray State men’s basketball lost against the Missouri State Bears 77-56 at the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 1.

The Racers are the only team Missouri State has beaten in Missouri Valley Conference play to this point in the season. Murray State falls to 4-6 away from home this year, bringing their record to 11-12 overall and 5-7 in the conference.

Murray State’s only lead of the game was 2-0 at the 19:18 mark of the first half. Missouri State went on a 7-0 run before the Racers scored their second basket. Missouri State went into halftime with a 43-19 lead and all of the momentum. Murray State’s 19-point first half was their second-lowest scoring first half, behind their 14-point first half against Nebraska in the Diamond Head Classic on Dec. 22.

While Murray State outscored Missouri State in the second half, they couldn’t stop the Bears from scoring. The Racers went on an 11-0 run to cut the Missouri State lead to 16 with 13:02 remaining, but the damage had already been done.

Murray State had four players finish with double-digit points, led by senior guards JaCobi Wood and AJ Ferguson, who finished with 11 points each. Senior guard Kylen Milton and junior forward Alden Applewhite scored 10 a piece.

Murray State shot 39% for the game while Missouri State shot 60%. Missouri State made 12 threes on 67% shooting. Murray State made all four of their three-pointers in the second half and finished 21% from behind the arc.

Murray State is back at home at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4. when they host the Drake Bulldogs. The Racers won the first meeting between the two teams this season in Des Moines, Iowa, 66-59.