JACKSONVILLE, Florida – UT Arlington men's basketball travels down to the Sunshine State for a trio of non-conference games beginning Tuesday. The Mavs are set to take on Murray State on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. CT, and then open the Jacksonville Classic with a battle with Austin Peay on Wednesday, also at 4 p.m., and close things out on Thanksgiving at 1 p.m. against Rhode Island.
 
First things first, the Mavs will face the Racers at Florida State College at Jacksonville Gymnasium in a neutral-site game that is separate from the Jacksonville Classic.
 
It marks the second-straight Missouri Valley Conference opponent for the Mavs, after their trip to Springfield last week to play Missouri State. It also will be just the second-ever meeting between UTA and Murray State, and first since the 1968 season. The Racers own the slight 1-0 series advantage, having beaten the Mavs, 91-83, in Murray, Kentucky, on Nov. 30, 1968.
 
Murray State is off to a 3-2 start following a 77-75 loss to WAC foe Utah Valley at home on Friday night.
 
The Racers are led by third-year head coach Steve Prohm. The Vienna, Virginia, native is in his second stint in Murray after previously leading the Racers' program for four seasons (2011-2015), producing  a sparkling 104-29 mark during that four-year span. He's also coached at Iowa State.
 
Murray State is led by forward KyeRon Lindsay, who is averaging 13.8 ppg and 7.0 rpg, all off the bench. But, it's not just Lindsay doing damage for the Racers as five Racers are averaging double figures in scoring through their first five games, including senior guard Terence Harcum, who is averaging 13.3 ppg.
 
The Mavs fell 78-68 at Missouri State last week, and look to get back to their winning ways with the first of three games in Jacksonville, on Tuesday. Guard Jaden Wells is also looking for a bounce-back, after being held to six points against the Bears, the first time this season he has failed to score at least 15 points in a game. Junior forward Jaxon Ellingsworth scored 19 and pulled down six boards against the Bears, and is now averaging 12.8 ppg off the bench, while shooting 60% from beyond the arc. Guard Darius Burford also had a productive game last time out, scoring 14 and recording a team-best nine rebounds. The Illinois State transfer is averaging 10.4 ppg and a team-best 5.4 rpg in his first five appearances as a Mav, one of which was a start.
 
The game will be broadcast live on BallerTV, as well as on the radio on the Varsity App, locally on 102.5 FM and KTNO 620 AM with the Voice of the Mavericks, Josh Sours. 
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, follow the men's basketball program on X (formerly Twitter) (@UTAMavsMBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsMBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsMBB).