Murray State Holds Off Southern Illinois in Close Contest
Monday, December 29, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · CFSB Center
Murray State Racers 84, Southern Illinois Salukis 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 Southern Illinois Salukis vs Murray State Racers?
Murray State Racers beat Southern Illinois Salukis 84-81 at CFSB Center on December 29, 2025.
Who was favored in Southern Illinois Salukis vs Murray State Racers?
Murray State Racers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -290 (about 74% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling matchup at the CFSB Center, the Murray State Racers narrowly defeated the Southern Illinois Salukis with a final score of 84-81. This game showcased the Racers' strong home performance, improving their record to 12-3, while the Salukis fell to 6-9 on the season.
Murray State entered the game riding a six-game winning streak, with a record of 8-2 over their last ten games. They have averaged an impressive 87.7 points per game during this stretch, while allowing 77.6 points. Their recent victories included a high-scoring affair against Akron, where they won 115-100, and a solid home win against Drake, finishing 81-72. The Racers have been particularly strong at home, boasting a perfect 5-0 record in their last five games at the CFSB Center, scoring an average of 89.2 points while allowing 74.2.
On the other hand, Southern Illinois has struggled recently, losing their last three games and holding a record of 4-6 in their last ten. They averaged 75.9 points scored and 75.0 points allowed during this stretch. Their most recent game was a close loss to the Bradley Braves, where they fell 69-73. The Salukis have had mixed results on the road, with a 2-4 away record, and their last five games have seen them average 78.0 points while allowing 75.8.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Murray State has dominated Southern Illinois this season, winning both previous encounters. The Racers secured a 62-60 victory at home on February 20 and a 74-64 win away on January 23, further establishing their superiority in this rivalry.
The market had Murray State favored by 6.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 165.5. The odds reflected the Racers' strong home form and recent success. The home moneyline was set at -290, while Southern Illinois was priced at +235.
As for injuries, the block did not provide specific details affecting either team, but both squads were expected to field their key players for this important matchup.
The game conditions were typical for a late December evening, with fans filling the CFSB Center to support their Racers. The atmosphere was electric, contributing to the home team's advantage.
In the final moments of the game, the Racers demonstrated resilience as Southern Illinois attempted a comeback. Key plays included a layup by Prince Aligbe and free throws from Javon Jackson that helped secure the victory. The Salukis made a late push, but ultimately fell short, unable to overcome the Racers' lead.
Viewers should have noted the high-scoring nature of the game, which reflected both teams' offensive capabilities, particularly Murray State's ability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities at home. The close scoreline also highlighted the competitive spirit of Southern Illinois, who fought hard despite their recent struggles.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MUR -6.5 | 165.5 o -115 / u -105 | Southern Illinois Salukis +235 · Murray State Racers -290 |
Leaders
- PointsJavon Jackson19Murray State Racers
- AssistsLayne Taylor6Murray State Racers
- ReboundsJJ Traynor9Murray State Racers
- PointsPrince Aligbe19Southern Illinois Salukis
- AssistsQuel'Ron House2Southern Illinois Salukis
- ReboundsPrince Aligbe9Southern Illinois Salukis
Recent form
Murray State Racers
Last 10: 8-2Streak W687.7 scored · 77.6 allowed per game5-0 at home
- 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
- L87-90at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersNov 24
- W89-68vs Little Rock TrojansNov 19
- W99-79vs Nicholls ColonelsNov 15
Southern Illinois Salukis
Last 10: 4-6Streak L375.9 scored · 75 allowed per game2-4 away
- L69-73at Bradley BravesDec 21
- L68-75vs Illinois State RedbirdsDec 19
- L84-93at Richmond SpidersDec 13
- W83-54vs UT Martin SkyhawksDec 11
- W86-84at High Point PanthersDec 4
- W74-65vs Little Rock TrojansNov 30
- L58-74at Memphis TigersNov 27
- L73-81vs UAB BlazersNov 24
- W79-59at Delaware Blue HensNov 23
- L85-92at North Dakota State BisonNov 18
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 | Southern Illinois Salukis | Murray State Racers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 33-68 | 29-57 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 3-8 | 10-27 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 37 |
| Free throws | 12-17 | 16-21 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 25 |
| Assists | 4 | 16 |
| Steals | 10 | 8 |
| Blocks | 0 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 56 | 34 |
| Fouls | 22 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 20 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 1 | 90 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-53Fred King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-56JJ Traynor makes 27-foot three point jumper (Layne Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half46-56Jorge Moreno makes layup
- 2nd Half48-56Quel'Ron House makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-59Javon Jackson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Fred King assists)
- 2nd Half50-59Jorge Moreno makes layup (Damien Mayo Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half53-59Damien Mayo Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Drew Steffe assists)
- 2nd Half55-59Jorge Moreno makes 8-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half57-59Davion Sykes makes layup
- 2nd Half58-59Davion Sykes makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-62Layne Taylor makes 22-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half60-62Rolyns Aligbe makes layup
- 2nd Half60-63Mathis Courbon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-64Mathis Courbon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-64Drew Steffe makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half64-64Drew Steffe makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half64-66Fred King makes layup
- 2nd Half64-67JJ Traynor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-67Quel'Ron House makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-68Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-69Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-70Roman Domon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-71Roman Domon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-71Prince Aligbe makes layup
- 2nd Half70-71Quel'Ron House makes layup
- 2nd Half70-72Fred King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-73Fred King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-73Prince Aligbe makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half72-76JJ Traynor makes 23-foot three point jumper (Fred King assists)
- 2nd Half72-78Layne Taylor makes layup
- 2nd Half72-79Layne Taylor makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half74-79Prince Aligbe makes layup
- 2nd Half74-81Javon Jackson makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half76-81Prince Aligbe makes layup
- 2nd Half77-81Prince Aligbe makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half79-81Prince Aligbe makes layup
- 2nd Half79-82Javon Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-83Javon Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-83Davion Sykes makes layup (Quel'Ron House assists)
- 2nd Half81-84KJ Tenner makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Murray State Racers, below favours Southern Illinois Salukis.
Venue
- CFSB CenterMurray, KY
- Attendance5058
- OfficialsJohn St. Clair, Darron George, Jeff Mahlam
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