Missouri State Bears vs Murray State Racers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Murray State vs Missouri State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Springfield.

Murray State vs Missouri State Prediction

Looking to win big? The Racers and Bears face off at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bears are hosting the game at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, MO. Murray State is favored by -3.5 in this Missouri Valley conference contest against Missouri State. The game's over/under currently sits at 131.5 points.

Murray State vs. Missouri State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Murray State Racers at Missouri State Bears
Where: Springfield at Great Southern Bank Arena
Date: Saturday, February 1st
Betting Odds MURST -3.5, MURST -154 | MSRST +128 O/U 131.5

Racers Preview: Taking a Look at the Racers Chances in Springfield

Murray State Racers Recent Game/Games

The Racers fell to 10-11 on the season after a 78-74 road loss to Evansville on Wednesday. Murray State entered the game as 5-point favorites but couldn’t cover the spread.

After leading 25-20 at halftime, the Racers allowed 58 points in the 2nd half while scoring 49 themselves. The total points for the game reached 152, surpassing the O/U line of 133.5.

Racers Offense Breakdown

In their last game, Murray State's offense put up 74 points, shooting 37.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, hitting 12 threes on 36 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.9%, and they connected on 77.8% of their free throws, going 14-for-18 from the line.

Gabriel Pozzato and JaCobi Wood each scored 29 points, with Pozzato shooting 71.4% overall and 57.1% from three, while Wood hit 66.7% of his threes, going 6-for-9. Tanner Cuff contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, making 6 of 7 shots from the field.

Racers Team Defense

Despite Murray State's defensive struggles, they allowed 78 points on 57% shooting from the field, including 65% on two-pointers (21/32). The Racers also gave up 6 threes on 15 attempts, a 40% clip.

From the free-throw line, Murray State's opponent went 18/24, hitting 75% of their attempts. The Racers did manage to limit second-chance opportunities, allowing just 5 offensive rebounds.

Bears Preview: Can the Bears Hold Strong at Home?

Missouri State Bears Recent Game/Games

Missouri State’s season record fell to 5-15 after a 72-67 loss to Indiana State on Wednesday. The Bears were +5 underdogs going into the game, and the final score resulted in a push against the spread. The total points for the game were 139, which was under the O/U line of 146.5.

Missouri State led 36-25 at halftime but allowed 47 points in the second half while scoring 31. This second-half collapse was a key factor in their loss.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Missouri State's offense put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field. They were particularly effective inside, hitting 63.6% of their two-point attempts, while struggling from beyond the arc, making just 5 of 20 threes (25%). Their effective field goal percentage was 52.8%, and they connected on 62.5% of their free throws, going 10 for 16 from the line.

Samage Teel led the Bears with 20 points and 3 assists, hitting 2 of 4 from three-point range. Jaden Daughtry added 18 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 54.5% from the field. Dez White contributed 16 points, making 4 of 9 threes, and Camp Wagner also hit 4 threes, finishing with 14 points.

Bears Team Defense

Missouri State's defense gave up 72 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 12 two-point baskets on 22 attempts, a 54% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the Bears' defense conceded 8 threes on 25 attempts, with opponents shooting 32%. They also sent the other team to the line 32 times, where they made 24 free throws, a 75% success rate.

Racers vs Bears Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three games away from home, the Racers have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 1-2 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 80 points per game in these contests.
Across the Bears last ten home games, the team averaged 67 points per game while allowing 73. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 5-4-1, while going 2-8 straight-up.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Missouri State has an ATS mark of 1-1-1 while going 0-3 straight up.
Going back to their previous three games as the favorite, Murray State has an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 1-2 straight up.