VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — A surging Murray State squad looks to extend its winning streak when it visits Valparaiso in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup Sunday at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Racers (9-3) enter on a five-game win streak, most recently defeating Drake 81-72 at home on Thursday. Guard Fredrick King led the way with 16 points, three assists and two blocks in that victory, continuing a strong stretch of play. Over his last seven games, King is averaging 11.7 points and has been a consistent contributor on both ends of the floor. Murray State’s offense has been potent during the streak, scoring 84 points or more in four of the five wins, including a 115-point outburst at Akron on Dec. 13. The Valparaiso Beacons (6-5), however, aim to stabilize after dropping two straight close games. They fell 73-70 to UNC Wilmington on Dec. 13 and 75-72 in overtime at Marquette on Dec. 2 before a 70-86 loss at Northwestern on Tuesday. Guard JT Pettigrew has been a bright spot, scoring in double figures in five consecutive contests, including a 17-point effort against UNC Wilmington. Sunday’s game marks the conference opener for both teams. The Beacons will need to contain Murray State’s offensive rhythm and find more consistent scoring beyond Pettigrew to defend their home court. The Racers, meanwhile, will test their momentum on the road against a Valparaiso team that has shown it can compete with high-major opponents. The teams will meet again in just over two weeks on Jan. 10 in Murray, Kentucky.