Illinois State Tops Murray State in Close Contest
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · CFSB Center
Illinois State Redbirds 70, Murray State Racers 65, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Illinois State Redbirds vs Murray State Racers?
Illinois State Redbirds beat Murray State Racers 70-65 at CFSB Center on January 28, 2026.
Who was favored in Illinois State Redbirds vs Murray State Racers?
Murray State Racers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -162 (about 62% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at the CFSB Center, the Illinois State Redbirds edged out the Murray State Racers with a final score of 70-65. This victory marks Illinois State's second consecutive win against Murray State, having previously defeated them 74-68 earlier in the season on January 3, 2025. The Redbirds improved their record to 16-7, while the Racers fell to 16-7, highlighting the competitive nature of this NCAAB fixture.
The game showcased the contrasting recent forms of both teams. Murray State entered the contest with an 8-2 record over their last ten games, though they were on a two-game losing streak, having lost to the Northern Iowa Panthers and the Drake Bulldogs in their previous outings. The Racers averaged 83.9 points scored per game while allowing 78.6 points during this stretch. Their home performance had been strong, with a perfect 5-0 record at home prior to this game.
In contrast, Illinois State's recent form was 6-4 over their last ten games, but they were coming off a loss to the Belmont Bruins. The Redbirds averaged 74.1 points scored and allowed 66.6 points in their last ten games. They had a mixed away record of 2-3, which made their win against Murray State even more significant.
The game was tightly contested, with Illinois State pulling away in the second half. Key scoring plays included a layup by Ty'Reek Coleman that pushed the Redbirds ahead 66-59, and a series of free throws by Javon Jackson and Chase Walker that maintained their lead. Fred King also contributed with crucial layups, ensuring Illinois State stayed ahead as the clock wound down.
The market had set the odds for this matchup with Murray State favored by 3.5 points, according to DraftKings, with a total points line of 159.5. The home moneyline was -162.0, while Illinois State's moneyline was set at 136.0, reflecting the competitive nature of the game.
Conditions for the game were typical for a winter evening in January, with both teams adjusting to the indoor environment of the CFSB Center. Fans witnessed a high-scoring affair, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities, although Illinois State's defense proved to be the deciding factor in the end.
Overall, this game served as a reminder of the fierce rivalry between these two programs, with Illinois State continuing to hold the upper hand in their recent encounters. As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on this game, with Murray State needing to bounce back from this defeat.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MUR -3.5 | 159.5 o -105 / u -115 | Illinois State Redbirds +136 · Murray State Racers -162 |
Leaders
- PointsFred King19Murray State Racers
- AssistsLayne Taylor5Murray State Racers
- ReboundsFred King11Murray State Racers
- PointsChase Walker21Illinois State Redbirds
- AssistsJohnny Kinziger2Illinois State Redbirds
- ReboundsLandon Wolf8Illinois State Redbirds
Recent form
Murray State Racers
Last 10: 8-2Streak L283.9 scored · 78.6 allowed per game5-0 at home
- L76-81at Northern Iowa PanthersJan 24
- L90-101at Drake BulldogsJan 22
- W85-81vs Indiana State SycamoresJan 17
- W92-79vs Valparaiso BeaconsJan 10
- W79-69at Evansville Purple AcesJan 8
- W86-66vs Bradley BravesJan 4
- W81-77at UIC FlamesJan 2
- W84-81vs Southern Illinois SalukisDec 30
- W85-79at Valparaiso BeaconsDec 21
- W81-72vs Drake BulldogsDec 19
Illinois State Redbirds
Last 10: 6-4Streak L174.1 scored · 66.6 allowed per game2-3 away
- L69-80at Belmont BruinsJan 24
- W59-54vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 22
- W88-62vs Bradley BravesJan 17
- L89-94at Indiana State SycamoresJan 15
- L59-63vs UIC FlamesJan 10
- L71-77at Valparaiso BeaconsJan 8
- W73-47vs Evansville Purple AcesJan 1
- W73-56at Drake BulldogsDec 30
- W85-65vs Indiana State SycamoresDec 21
- W75-68at Southern Illinois SalukisDec 19
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Illinois State Redbirds | Murray State Racers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-56 | 23-60 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 38 |
| Three-pointers | 6-16 | 4-22 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 18 |
| Free throws | 8-14 | 15-17 |
| Free throw % | 57 | 88 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 31 | 26 |
| Assists | 9 | 8 |
| Steals | 5 | 9 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 36 |
| Fouls | 15 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 75 | 17 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half37-29Chase Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half37-31Javon Jackson makes layup
- 2nd Half39-31Mason Klabo makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half39-34Layne Taylor makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half41-34Landon Wolf makes layup
- 2nd Half41-36Fred King makes layup
- 2nd Half41-38Fred King makes layup
- 2nd Half41-41JJ Traynor makes 23-foot three point jumper (Javon Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half43-41Landon Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half43-43Fred King makes layup (Layne Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half45-43Ty Pence makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half45-45Layne Taylor makes layup
- 2nd Half47-45Chase Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half50-45Johnny Kinziger makes 24-foot three point jumper (Landon Moore assists)
- 2nd Half52-45Ty Pence makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-45Ty'Reek Coleman makes layup
- 2nd Half54-46Brock Vice makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-47Brock Vice makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-49Fred King makes layup
- 2nd Half54-50Roman Domon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-51Roman Domon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-51Chase Walker makes layup (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 2nd Half56-52KJ Tenner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-53KJ Tenner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-53Johnny Kinziger makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half61-53Johnny Kinziger makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ty'Reek Coleman assists)
- 2nd Half61-55Layne Taylor makes layup
- 2nd Half61-56Fred King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-57Fred King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-57Chase Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half64-57Chase Walker makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half64-59Fred King makes 1-foot dunk (Layne Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half66-59Ty'Reek Coleman makes layup
- 2nd Half66-61Fred King makes layup (Layne Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half68-61Chase Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half69-61Chase Walker makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half69-62Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-63Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-63Chase Walker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-65Fred King makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Murray State Racers, below favours Illinois State Redbirds.
Venue
- CFSB CenterMurray, KY
- Attendance5553
- OfficialsDeron White, Bret Smith, John Hampton
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