Racers open MVC conference play with 63-61 win over Evansville

The Murray State Racers opened their third season in the Missouri Valley Conference Tuesday with a 63-61 victory over the Evansville Purple Aces at the CFSB Center.

The Racers (5-2) survived a late charge by Evansville in the final minute to win their third straight opener in The Valley. 

Leading 33-25 at halftime, the Racers held off the Aces leading by as little as eight points and as much as 10, but never able to pull away in the first 10 minutes. Terence Harcum and Wood hit back-to-back threes for a 57-51 lead at 5:08 left, but the Racers defended three straight possessions with the lead on the line before the Aces tied the game 58-58 at 1:22. 

AJ Ferguson's three-point play with 55 seconds remaining put the Racers in front for good, but MSU had to survive a 3-point attempt for the win at the buzzer from Evansville.

JaCobi Wood scored a season-high 21 points with six rebounds and five assists for the Racers, while Kylen Milton scored his fifth double-digit game of the season with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Evansville was particularly stingy in the paint with 10 blocks of Racer shots.

The Racers return to action Sunday at home against Southeast Missouri in a 3 p.m. tipoff. It'll be the 89th meeting between the Racers and the Redhawks since 1931. Murray State leads the series 67 wins to 21.