The Murray State Racers (5-3, 2-0 MVC) brought home a 77-70 overtime win Sunday over the Valparaiso Beacons for a 2-0 beginning to their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference. At the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Indiana, MSU won their second-straight overtime game this week and their first road win in the 2022-23 season.
Rob Perry’s 30-point scoring day for the Racers included a pair of clutch 3-point baskets, one (with 1:37 remaining) made sure the game would get to overtime and the other, the game winner with 41-seconds on the clock. Perry scored nine of MSU’s 15 points in the extra time. Jamari Smith added 18 points and JaCobi Wood 10 points. Smith and Quincy Anderson led the Racers each with seven rebounds
Trailing 30-20 with 3:07 remaining in the first half, the Racers made a sprint to the halftime intermission and cut the Beacons’ lead to 30-29. One of the sparks of the Racers’ run was freshman Sam Murray II who made a big dunk to start the run off an offensive rebound.
In records that begin in 1983, the Racers’ back-to-back overtime games this week are the first in school history. MSU defeated Illinois State in extra time Thursday night before getting the same result in extra time at Valpo.
Heading into finals week at Murray State, the Racers’ next game is Saturday (Dec. 10) at Bellarmine. The 3 p.m. Central Time tip happens at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.
Game Notes
- This was MSU’s first trip to Valpo since 2013 when Cameron Payne played his first game as a Racer.
- The 2013 game was MSU’s only game at Valpo before today.
- The Beacons return the game to Murray for the regular-season finale Feb. 26.
- Complete single-game records for the Racers only date back to 1983. This week is the first instance of one of MSU’s teams playing back-to-back overtime games.
- Rob Perry’s 30 points was just off his career-high of 34 points against (Nov. 9, 2019) at Western Illinois.
- With the two early MVC games in the books, the Racers are 2-0 with a share of first place at the moment with Bradley.
- MSU gets back to Valley play (Dec. 29) when the Southern Illinois Salukis visit the CFSB Center.
- In a big week, the Racers recorded their first win in The Valley and their first road win.
- MSU’s game at Freedom Hall Saturday is their first at the historic arena since they played Louisville there in 2004.
- Now the home court for Bellarmine, this will be MSU’s first meeting there against the Knights.
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