Harcum’s record day propels men’s basketball over Evansville

Zach Simmons, Sports Editor

March 7, 2025

Senior guard Terence Harcum celebrates with assistant coach Brendan Mullins as he comes off the court in the final minutes of the game.

ST. LOUIS – Senior guard Terence Harcum scored a career-high 31 points and set a new Missouri Valley Conference Tournament record for highest single-game 3-point percentage Thursday night as the Murray State men’s basketball team beat Evansville, 74-53,in the first round of Arch Madness. The two teams split the regular season series, beating each other at their home venues.

Harcum broke the record set by Illinois State’s Shawn Jeppson, who went 6-for-6 from behind the arc against Drake in 2002.

Murray State and Evansville traded baskets throughout the first half. Junior forward Alden Applewhite’s three-pointer gave the Racers a 10-point lead with 3:09 left in the half. Evansville went on a 6-0 run thanks in part to guard Tayshawn Comer, who finished the half with 13 points. As the first half ended, Murray State senior forward Nick Ellington’s putback off a missed shot gave the Racers a six-point lead going into halftime.

The Racers came out firing in the second half, going on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 14. Evansville cut the Racers’ lead down to eight in the second half courtesy of a tip-in by forward Joshua Hughes, but that was as close as they got.

An 18-2 Racer run pushed their lead to 24 points to seal the game. Murray State advances to the quarterfinal round of Arch Madness.

Harcum’spoint total was the most in an Arch Madness game since former Northern Iowa guard Bowen Born scored 34 points against Bradley in 2023. He only missed one shot the entire game, shooting 10-for-11 from the field and 7-for-7 from the three-point line.

Senior guard Kylen Milton, finished with 14 points, 12 of which came from behind the arc. Ellington scored eight points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

With the win, Murray State advances to tonight’s quarterfinal round to play Bradley at 6 p.m. Bradley beat Murray State in both regular season matchups between the teams. The Braves won 74-61 at the CFSB Center on Jan. 18, and then again in Peoria, Illinois on Feb. 22, when they came back from 16 points down to beat the Racer by two in overtime, 85-83.