Murray State Defeats Evansville 79-69 in NCAAB Clash
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Ford Center
Murray State Racers 79, Evansville Purple Aces 69, 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 Murray State Racers vs Evansville Purple Aces?
Murray State Racers beat Evansville Purple Aces 79-69 at Ford Center on January 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Murray State Racers vs Evansville Purple Aces?
Murray State Racers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -440 (about 81% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup at the Ford Center, the Murray State Racers triumphed over the Evansville Purple Aces with a final score of 79-69. This victory extends Murray State's impressive winning streak to nine games, showcasing their strong form in the NCAAB season. Meanwhile, Evansville continues to struggle, suffering their seventh consecutive loss.
Murray State entered the game with a record of 14-3, demonstrating a solid performance throughout the season, particularly in their recent outings where they recorded a 9-1 mark in their last ten games. Averaging 85.3 points while allowing 76.3, they have proven to be a potent offensive team. Their last five games have seen them score an average of 83.4 points, reflecting their offensive prowess.
In contrast, Evansville's record stands at 4-13, with a dismal 1-9 record over their last ten games. They have struggled significantly on both ends of the court, averaging just 62.5 points while allowing 74.9 points per game. Their recent form shows a stark decline, with their last five games yielding an average of only 61.2 points scored.
The matchup was particularly significant as it highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two teams. Murray State has been dominant at home with a 5-0 record, while their away record stands at 4-1. Evansville, however, has struggled both at home and on the road, with a home record of 1-5 and an away record of 0-4 in their last ten games.
The two teams have met three times in recent history, with Murray State leading the series 2-1. In their last encounter on March 7, 2025, Murray State won decisively with a score of 74-53. However, Evansville managed to secure a victory against Murray State earlier in the season on January 30, 2025, winning 78-74 at home.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but it is clear that both teams are navigating their respective challenges as they progress through the season.
The betting lines from DraftKings reflected Murray State's strong position, with a spread of 8.5 points in their favor and a money line of -440, indicating confidence in their ability to secure a win. The total points for the game were set at 153.5, suggesting expectations of a moderately high-scoring affair.
Conditions during the game were typical for January, with the venue being the indoor Ford Center, providing a controlled environment for both teams to showcase their skills.
As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a series of impactful plays, including a critical 24-foot three-point jumper by JJ Traynor that extended Murray State's lead to 79-65 late in the second half. The scoring plays highlighted the Racers' ability to execute under pressure, with contributions from players like Javon Jackson and AJ Casey.
Overall, the game served as a stark reminder of the disparities between the two programs this season, with Murray State continuing to build momentum while Evansville seeks to find answers to their ongoing struggles.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MUR -8.5 | 153.5 o -108 / u -112 | Murray State Racers -440 · Evansville Purple Aces +340 |
Leaders
- PointsAJ Casey24Evansville Purple Aces
- AssistsLeif Moeller5Evansville Purple Aces
- ReboundsJames Dyson-Merwe6Evansville Purple Aces
- PointsJavon Jackson22Murray State Racers
- AssistsLayne Taylor3Murray State Racers
- ReboundsRoman Domon11Murray State Racers
Recent form
Evansville Purple Aces
Last 10: 1-9Streak L762.5 scored · 74.9 allowed per game1-5 at home
- L48-62vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 4
- L47-73at Illinois State RedbirdsJan 1
- L68-76at Bradley BravesDec 30
- L65-66vs Drake BulldogsDec 21
- L78-83vs Belmont BruinsDec 17
- L58-82at Notre Dame Fighting IrishDec 13
- L79-80at Western Kentucky HilltoppersDec 6
- W64-52vs Ball State CardinalsDec 4
- L59-78vs Charleston CougarsNov 24
- L59-97vs Akron ZipsNov 24
Murray State Racers
Last 10: 9-1Streak W985.3 scored · 76.3 allowed per game4-1 away
- 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
- W96-95at George Washington RevolutionariesNov 26
- L60-73at McNeese CowboysNov 25
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 | Murray State Racers | Evansville Purple Aces |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-59 | 27-53 |
| Field goal % | 46 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 7-25 | 1-12 |
| Three-point % | 28 | 8 |
| Free throws | 18-27 | 14-19 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 27 |
| Assists | 13 | 15 |
| Steals | 4 | 5 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 50 |
| Fouls | 20 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 14 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 72 | 20 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-39Bryce Quinet makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half47-39Roman Domon makes layup
- 2nd Half47-41AJ Casey makes 2-foot dunk (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half47-42AJ Casey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-43AJ Casey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-45AJ Casey makes layup (Bryce Quinet assists)
- 2nd Half49-45Roman Domon makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half49-46Leif Moeller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-47Leif Moeller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-47Roman Domon makes 25-foot three point jumper (KJ Tenner assists)
- 2nd Half52-48Joshua Hughes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-49Joshua Hughes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-49KJ Tenner makes layup
- 2nd Half54-51Leif Moeller makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half55-51Mathis Courbon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-51Mathis Courbon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-51Mathis Courbon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-51Mathis Courbon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-53Alex Hemenway makes 4-foot jumper (Kaia Berridge assists)
- 2nd Half58-55Joshua Hughes makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Kaia Berridge assists)
- 2nd Half58-57Bryce Quinet makes layup (Kaia Berridge assists)
- 2nd Half60-57Fred King makes layup (Roman Domon assists)
- 2nd Half60-59Kaia Berridge makes layup
- 2nd Half62-59Javon Jackson makes layup
- 2nd Half63-59Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-61AJ Casey makes layup (Bryce Quinet assists)
- 2nd Half64-61Mason Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-61Mason Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-61JJ Traynor makes 23-foot three point jumper (Layne Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half68-63AJ Casey makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half70-63Javon Jackson makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half71-63Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-63Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-63JJ Traynor makes 5-foot jumper (Javon Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half74-65AJ Casey makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half76-65Javon Jackson makes layup (Layne Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half79-65JJ Traynor makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mathis Courbon assists)
- 2nd Half79-67AJ Casey makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half79-68Trent Hundley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-69Trent Hundley makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Evansville Purple Aces, below favours Murray State Racers.
Venue
- Ford CenterEvansville, IN
- Attendance4017
- OfficialsShawn Lehigh, Bret Smith, John Hampton
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