MURRAY, Ky., USA — The snapshot of the night was Indiana State guard Samiyah Briggs (1) knifing toward the rim with Murray State guard Keslyn Secrist (11) sliding into position, a single possession that captured both the Sycamores’ intent and the Racers’ control in a 115–67 Murray State win on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Indiana State tried to set an early tone by putting pressure on the paint, with Briggs probing off the dribble while Murray State responded with crisp help defense and quick outlets. For a stretch, the Sycamores hung around with energy plays and second chances, keeping the building from turning into a track meet.
That balance didn’t last. Murray State steadily widened the margin with efficient shot-making and pace, taking a double-digit lead into halftime at 48–31 and putting Indiana State in a position where every empty trip felt magnified.
The game cracked wide open coming out of the locker room. Murray State detonated for 39 points in the third quarter, a wave of transition pushes, clean perimeter looks, and finishes at the rim that turned a manageable deficit into an avalanche.
The Racers’ scoring came in layers. Halli Poock paced the night with 27 points, Haven Ford added 21, and Secrist delivered 20 on a hyper-efficient line that included finishes in traffic and trips to the stripe. Behind them, Braxcynn Baker’s shooting pop off the bench and Sharnecce Currie-Jelks’ work inside kept the pressure unrelenting.
For Briggs, the box score didn’t match the effort. She went scoreless, but her role was visible in the way she kept driving into seams, battled on the glass for five rebounds, and tried to disrupt Murray State’s rhythm even as Secrist’s positioning and activity helped the Racers dictate the terms.
Indiana State’s most consistent answers came from its frontcourt muscle and bench production. Clemisha Prackett posted a 21-point, 18-rebound double-double, while Da’Naria Washington and Tierney Kelsey scored 16 apiece as the Sycamores kept swinging despite the widening gap.
By the final horn, the numbers told the story of a team playing with championship momentum. Murray State’s outburst secured at least a share of the MVC regular-season title for a second straight year, while Indiana State left Murray looking to reset quickly as the schedule marched on.
