Anybody who’s been paying attention to college basketball in recent years should be familiar with the Murray State Racers. They have become one of the pre-eminent mid-majors in the country, making cheap Murray State basketball tickets hard to find. Of course, Murray State’s success on the hardwood is nothing new. The Racers have a proud history and have been in the national spotlight for a long time, which is why in a state that loves basketball, last-minute Murray State basketball tickets have remained in high demand.

Always a Contender

Even in the early days of Murray State basketball, the Racers were a successful program during their days at the NAIA level. Murray State reached the NAIA Final Four in 1938, 1941, 1943, and 1952 before eventually moving to the Ohio Valley Conference and the Division I level.

Winning Ways

Despite some success in the 1960s and 70s, Murray State basketball took off in the late 1980s under head coach Steve Newton. Under Newton, the Racers began a stretch in the 1987-88 season of consecutive winning seasons that lasted for nearly three decades. The 1988 season was also the year of Murray State’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win, an upset of NC State despite being a 14 seed. The Racers would go on to reach the NCAA Tournament seven more times in the 1990s, becoming the pre-eminent force in the Ohio Valley and nearly knocking off high seeds on multiple occasions.

Still On Top

Outside of a losing season in 2016-17, Murray State has remained near the top of the Ohio Valley hierarchy and on the national radar deep into the 21st century. Not only are the Racers frequent participants in the NCAA Tournament, but they also won at least one game in 2010, 2012, and 2019. Even as a double-digit seed, the Racers have become a team that opponents fear in the Big Dance, solidifying their standing as a strong mid-major program.