Murray State Basketball: 3 keys for Round of 32 matchup with Saint Peter’s

Two teams that played overtime basketball will face one another in an East Region game in Indianapolis Saturday. Murray State Basketball (31-2) outlasted San Francisco 92-87 and Saint Peter’s (20-11) upset Kentucky 85-79.

Game time on CBS is set for 6:45 pm (Central).

These are two streaking teams. Saint Peter’s has won eight straight games and the Racers boast of the nation’s longest winning streak at 21. While neither program has ever made it to the Sweet Sixteen, one of them will get there after Saturday night’s contest.

Murray State had five players reach double figures in scoring during their dramatic win. They battled injuries and foul trouble but their bench players came up big as sixth man Trae Hannibal scored 18 points and backup forward Jordan Skipper-Brown recorded his first double-double of the season.

Saint Peter’s guard Daryl Banks III scored a season-high 27 points and reserve guard Doug Edert contributed 20. The two juniors combined to make seven three-pointers and helped carry the Peacocks to the biggest upset of this year’s NCAA Tournament.

MSU still has some injury concerns, but come into the game as the favorite to advance to next weekend’s Sweet Sixteen round in Philadelphia.

Murray’s dream of post-season success hinges on three key ingredients. If Matt McMahon’s Racers maximize their size advantage, win the transition game and be patient in the half-court offense, they can order their plane tickets for the City of Brotherly Love.