After Hawai'i exhale, Racers ready for Valley gauntlet

MBB: Murray State hosts Illinois State Thursday night at the CFSB Center

Patrick Chew and the Racers wrapped up their trip to Hawai’i with a win over Loyola-Chicago. (Photo: Murray State Athletics)

With time winding down on Christmas morning in Hawai’i, all of Racer Nation watched in borderline terror as Loyola-Chicago’s Sheldon Edwards launched what would have been a game-tying three-pointer as the clock approached triple zeroes.

When the ball caromed harmlessly off the rim as time expired, and Murray State clinched a 71-68 win at the Diamond Head Classic, everyone around the Racer program exhaled — a cathartic, relief-filled exhale.