MTSU used a dominant performance in the paint on Tuesday night to hold off Murray State 87-81 at Murphy Center before a crowd of 4,507.
MTSU held a 42-24 in the paint, and Arkansas transfer JaCorey William did the bulk of the work with a team-high 22 points.
"I'm kind of quicker than the average big," Williams said. "I try to use my athleticism to kind of score a little bit."
The Blue Raiders got down quick in the beginning of the first half as the Racers jumped out to an early 14-8 lead.
A lob layup to guard Jonathon Stark gave the Racers their largest lead of the first half 21-13.