Racers take conference opener from Drake 81-72

The Murray State Racers won their Missouri Valley Conference opener for a fourth straight time Thursday when they pushed past the Drake Bulldogs 81-72 at the CFSB Center.

The Racers (9-3) have won five straight games overall and moved their home win streak to eight. The Racers won for the first time in three home games against the Bulldogs.

Fred King posted his second double-double in the Murray State uniform with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Layne Taylor and Javon Jackson scored 15 and 11 points. Mason Miller added 10 points as he and Taylor combined to hit six of MSU's nine 3-point baskets.

The Racers held Drake to a season-low 19 percent on three 3-pointers.

In the first half, the Racers trailed by a point at 7:58 when they got the game pace to their liking and hit the Bulldogs with a 13-4 run, punctuated by a rebound and score by King. With 3:22 left, King found Brayden Shorter for a corner three for a nine-point lead and the Racers took a 36-30 lead at the intermission.

With 3:09 remaining, King gave the Racers a boost when he drove under the backboard for a reverse dunk and the next time down the floor, he added a three-point play to put MSU up by 12 at 74-62 with 2:15 left.

The Racers hit the road Sunday for a 1 p.m. start at Valparaiso.