The Murray State men’s basketball team fought hard but ultimately came up short in a 55-45 loss to the Drake Bulldogs at the CFSB Center on Tuesday evening. The defeat was especially tough considering the Racers had already beaten Drake earlier in the season in Des Moines, Iowa, back in early January. However, this time around, the Bulldogs proved too strong for the Racers in both halves, despite a spirited second-half comeback attempt.
The game started as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find a rhythm offensively. Senior forward Nick Ellington opened the scoring with a layup assisted by senior guard Terrence Harcum, but Drake quickly regained control and never relinquished the lead. The Racers had another rough first half, scoring just 18 points and struggling from the field, hitting only eight of their 22 shots. They managed to make just one three-pointer, and that slow start put them in a significant hole. At halftime, they trailed 32-18.
Murray State came out of the break determined to make a game of it, and early on, they showed promise. Ellington and senior guard Kylen Milton each contributed dunks, bringing the Racers within striking distance. However, Drake quickly responded with an 8-0 run, pushing the lead back up to double digits. The Racers answered with a 9-0 run of their own, sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from senior guard AJ Ferguson. This burst brought the score to 43-33 with 8:30 remaining, giving Murray State hope.
As the game wore on, Murray State continued to battle. Milton was excellent from the free-throw line, making six consecutive free throws, and Ferguson’s shooting kept the team within reach. The Racers cut the deficit to just eight points with 2:59 left in the game after a series of aggressive plays and timely baskets. However, despite the momentum shift, the Bulldogs’ defense held strong, and they managed to maintain their lead to seal the victory.
Ellington and Milton led the way for Murray State with 10 points apiece, with Milton going a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. Ferguson added 8 points on 60% shooting, but the team’s struggles early in the game proved too much to overcome. With the loss, the Racers’ record dropped to 11-13 overall and 5-8 in MVC play. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, improved to 21-2 on the season and 11-2 in conference play, sitting atop the MVC standings.
This loss extended the Racers’ losing streak to four games and dropped their home conference record to 2-4. Murray State will now look to regroup quickly, heading to Valparaiso, Indiana, for a crucial road matchup against the Valparaiso Beacons on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Racers will aim to get back on track after previously defeating the Beacons 58-47 at the CFSB Center in mid-January.
