Murray State Edges Indiana State in Close Contest
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · CFSB Center
Murray State Racers 85, Indiana State Sycamores 81, 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 Indiana State Sycamores vs Murray State Racers?
Murray State Racers beat Indiana State Sycamores 85-81 at CFSB Center on January 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Indiana State Sycamores vs Murray State Racers?
Murray State Racers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -800 (about 89% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling matchup at the CFSB Center, the Murray State Racers narrowly defeated the Indiana State Sycamores with a final score of 85-81. This victory marked Murray State's continued dominance at home, improving their record to 17-3 overall, while Indiana State fell to 9-11.
Murray State entered the game riding a remarkable ten-game winning streak, showcasing an impressive home record of 6-0 this season. Over their last ten games, they averaged 86.8 points scored while allowing 74.3 points, indicating a high-scoring, yet defensively vulnerable style of play. Their recent form included victories over Valparaiso and Bradley, with a notable 115-100 win against Akron, highlighting their offensive prowess.
In contrast, Indiana State's recent form has been more inconsistent, posting a 5-5 record in their last ten games. They had a slight uptick in performance, winning their last game against Illinois State, but their overall away record stood at 1-3. The Sycamores averaged 79.2 points scored and allowed 76.3 points during this stretch, suggesting they have been competitive but often fall short in critical moments.
Historically, this matchup has been closely contested, with the teams splitting their last two meetings. In their previous encounter on February 26, 2025, Murray State triumphed 85-75 at home, while Indiana State had previously defeated them 84-74 in December 2024. This history set the stage for a competitive game, and the final score reflected that expectation.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details about player availability, but both teams would have had to manage their rosters carefully, especially given the intensity of their recent schedules.
The betting lines from DraftKings indicated that Murray State was favored by 11.5 points, with a total set at 167.5. The odds reflected confidence in Murray State's home advantage and their recent form, while Indiana State's moneyline was listed at 550. The conditions in the CFSB Center were likely conducive to a high-scoring affair, as both teams have shown the ability to put points on the board.
As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a series of scoring plays that kept the tension high. Notable moments included Camp Wagner's crucial layup and Mason Miller's dunk, which ultimately sealed the victory for Murray State. The game was characterized by back-and-forth scoring, with Indiana State making a strong push in the second half but ultimately falling short.
Overall, this matchup between Murray State and Indiana State provided an exciting display of college basketball, showcasing the intensity and competitiveness that fans have come to expect from these teams.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MUR -11.5 | 167.5 o -105 / u -115 | Indiana State Sycamores +550 · Murray State Racers -800 |
Leaders
- PointsJavon Jackson21Murray State Racers
- AssistsJavon Jackson3Murray State Racers
- ReboundsFred King13Murray State Racers
- PointsCamp Wagner20Indiana State Sycamores
- AssistsCamp Wagner3Indiana State Sycamores
- ReboundsCamp Wagner8Indiana State Sycamores
Recent form
Murray State Racers
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1086.8 scored · 74.3 allowed per game6-0 at home
- 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
- W115-100at Akron ZipsDec 13
- W81-68vs Bellarmine KnightsDec 6
- W84-52vs Morehead State EaglesDec 3
Indiana State Sycamores
Last 10: 5-5Streak W179.2 scored · 76.3 allowed per game1-3 away
- W94-89vs Illinois State RedbirdsJan 15
- L69-72vs Evansville Purple AcesJan 10
- L72-74at Drake BulldogsJan 4
- L66-75at Northern Iowa PanthersJan 2
- W81-80vs Belmont BruinsDec 30
- L65-85at Illinois State RedbirdsDec 21
- L99-108vs Bradley BravesDec 19
- W70-68at Milwaukee PanthersDec 14
- W77-55vs Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesDec 7
- W99-57vs Eureka Red DevilsDec 3
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 | Indiana State Sycamores | Murray State Racers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 32-66 | 29-62 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 8-16 | 11-29 |
| Three-point % | 50 | 38 |
| Free throws | 9-15 | 16-23 |
| Free throw % | 60 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 26 |
| Assists | 11 | 11 |
| Steals | 8 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 13 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 44 | 34 |
| Fouls | 20 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 1 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 1 | 97 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half50-55Fred King makes layup (Javon Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half50-57Mason Miller makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half52-57Ian Scott makes layup
- 2nd Half54-57Ian Scott makes layup
- 2nd Half54-58Mathis Courbon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-58Enel St. Bernard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-58Camp Wagner makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half59-58Enel St. Bernard makes 2-foot dunk (Camp Wagner assists)
- 2nd Half59-60Roman Domon makes layup
- 2nd Half59-62Javon Jackson makes layup
- 2nd Half59-63Layne Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-66Javon Jackson makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half60-66Jo Van Buggenhout makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-67Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-68Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-71Layne Taylor makes 23-foot three point jumper (Javon Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half62-71Sterling Young makes layup
- 2nd Half64-71Jo Van Buggenhout makes layup
- 2nd Half65-71Camp Wagner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-71Camp Wagner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-74Mason Miller makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half67-74Jo Van Buggenhout makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-74Jo Van Buggenhout makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-75Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-76Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-76Enel St. Bernard makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Jo Van Buggenhout assists)
- 2nd Half72-76Ian Scott makes layup
- 2nd Half73-76Ian Scott makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half73-77JJ Traynor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-78Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-79Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-80Fred King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-81Fred King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-81Sterling Young makes layup
- 2nd Half77-81Camp Wagner makes layup
- 2nd Half77-82Layne Taylor makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-82Camp Wagner makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half79-83Roman Domon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-83Camp Wagner makes layup
- 2nd Half81-85Mason Miller makes 3-foot dunk (JJ Traynor assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Murray State Racers, below favours Indiana State Sycamores.
Venue
- CFSB CenterMurray, KY
- Attendance8083
- OfficialsJeff Campbell, John Hendricks, Larry Hamilton
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