NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — A pivotal Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Wednesday night when the Murray State Racers visit the Illinois State Redbirds at Redbird Arena. Both teams enter the 7 p.m. CST tipoff looking to rebound from double-digit losses this past weekend. Murray State (19-9, 9-6 MVC) fell 87-70 to Belmont at home on Sunday, while Illinois State (17-10, 9-6 MVC) was routed 83-56 at Illinois-Chicago. The contest is a quick rematch from Jan. 28, when the Redbirds edged the Racers 70-65 in Murray. That result is part of a recent uneven stretch for both squads, who are currently tied in the conference standings. Murray State has lost three of its last five, though its wins in that span came on the road at Indiana State and Southern Illinois. Illinois State has also dropped three of its last five, with its victories during that period coming at home against Valparaiso and Drake. A key player to watch for the Racers is guard KJ Tenner, who is coming off a 21-point performance in 23 minutes against Belmont. His scoring has been volatile, but he provides a spark for Murray State’s backcourt. For the Redbirds, guard Johnny Kinziger remains a consistent focal point. He logged 32 minutes and contributed 12 points, three rebounds and three assists in the loss to UIC, and scored 10 points in the Jan. 28 win over Murray State. The game carries significant weight for seeding in the upcoming MVC Tournament. Both teams are jockeying for position in the crowded upper-middle tier of the league, making this head-to-head tiebreaker critical. Murray State will aim to leverage its more potent offense, which has topped 90 points twice in February, while Illinois State will rely on its home-court advantage where it has an 11-3 record this season. The Racers’ next game is at home against Evansville on Saturday. Illinois State travels to face Bradley on Saturday.