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MURRAY, Ky.(AP) Illinois State's Geno Blow and Parrish Fisher combined for 172 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 42-23 victory over Murray State on Saturday night.

Blow ran for a game-high 98 yards and two touchdowns and Fisher added 73 yards and two more scores for the Redbirds (1-1), who rushed for 259 yards and five touchdowns.

Tom Nelson recorded a career-high 102 in punt return yards, which included an 82-yard scamper for a touchdown.

Fisher opened the scoring on a 3-yard run, which was followed by Nelson's punt return for a score.

The Racers (1-2) responded with a 41-yard field goal from Kienan Cullen and Jamal Cook's fumble recovery in the end zone to cut the lead to 14-10.

The Redbirds outscored Murray State 28-13 in the second half to pad their lead.

Murray State's Chris Franklin passed for 145 yards and fourth-quarter touchdowns to Daniel Ard and Marcus Harris.

Franklin's pass to Ard cut the lead to 28-16, but Blow scored on an 18-yard run for a 35-16 lead with 3:57 remaining in the game.