The Murray State men’s basketball team won the first game of their 3-game home stand, taking down the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Flames, and doing it without their starting point guard, senior JaCobi Wood. This was the Racers’ first home win since Jan. 11 against the Valparaiso Beacons by a score of 58-47.
The scoring in the game started off slow, with UIC taking an early 9-6 lead over Murray State. However, a 22-5 run over the next 7:15 helped propel the Racers to a 31-20 halftime lead. This was the second straight game where they have scored 30 or more points in the first half.
A 3-pointer by UIC’s Tyem Freeman brought the Racer lead to eight points just 12 seconds into the second half, but that was as close as the Flames could get. Murray State’s lead got as high as 17 points, but 10 made free throws by UIC in the final 3:13 saw the Racers win the game 63-53.
Senior guard Terence Harcum was called on to play the point and said he found out very shortly before game time.
“Probably tip-off,” Harcum said when asked how long before the game he found out he’d be playing the point guard spot in Wood’s absence.
Head Coach Steve Prohm voiced his pleasure with how Harcum played at the point.
“I didn’t realize (he had) six assists to two turnovers, that’s 3-to-1. That’s phenomenal,” Prohm said. “I thought he was good in pick and roll; he turned one or two over that I wish he could get back because I thought he had (an) advantage. Then he hit that one 3 (pointer) that put us up about 16 late. That was one of those fist pump threes.”
Harcum seemed comfortable in the role, leading the Racers with 13 points and six assists. In the full 40 minutes that he played, he only turned the ball over twice out of the team’s 10 turnovers. Senior guard Kylen Milton also finished with 13 points, with eight of those coming from the free-throw line.
While Prohm only played seven players, the two players off the bench helped keep the energy and momentum going for the Racers. The junior tandem of KyeRon Lindsay and Justin Morgan combined for 13 points, Lindsay scored eight while Morgan scored five.
While points are important, the amount of hustle plays both men contributed played a key part in the Racers seeing this game through. Morgan stole the ball with 12:12 remaining in the game after getting hit in the face the possession prior. He got up, ran the full length of the floor and picked the pocket of Flames guard Jordan Mason. Lindsay’s seven rebounds helped generate extra possessions for the Racers, as they went on to grab 46 total rebounds for the game.
With this win, Murray State moves into a tie with UIC for seventh place in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings at 7-8. Their overall record moves to 13-13.
Men’s basketball’s next game is on Sunday, Feb. 16, when they host the second-place University of Northern Iowa Panthers. The Racers won the first matchup of the season against the Panthers 71-68 on Jan. 8 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
