GAME NOTES (HTML)
GAME NOTES (PDF)
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Morehead State and Murray State have had many battles on the hardwood over the years. With almost 150 games played in the series, the one thing they hadn’t done was to meet in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship game.
That was until Saturday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Murray State ran its record to 9-0 against Morehead State in OVC Tournament game as they knocked off the defending champions, 62-51.
“We are very disappointed. I think Murray State played pretty well,” said Donnie Tyndall, men’s head basketball coach. “They are a very physical team and we did well in the first 25 minutes, but their depth and our foul trouble hurt us late.”
It started as a classic between the two Bluegrass teams. Nine ties, five lead changes in the first half.
A jumper by sophomore Terrance Hill with 7:52 remaining put the Eagles on top 13-11. Murray State reeled off 10 of the next 14 points and held Morehead State scoreless for more than six minutes.
A pair of free throws by Racer B.J. Jenkins pushed Murray State in front 22-17. Morehead State regrouped. An inside bucket by junior Kenneth Faried got the Eagles to within 24-21 with less than a minute to play in the half. Hill drilled a three-pointer as time expired in the half to deadlock the game at 24-24.
The Eagles kept the game close early in the season half. A tip in by Faried with 14:42 gave Morehead State its only advantage 31-30 with 14:42 remaining. Tied at 31, Murray State went on a 14-4 run. Isaiah Canaan hit a trey with 5:48 to give the Racers their first double-digit lead, at 45-35. The Eagles could get no closer than eight for the rest of the contest.
“We have a special group and these are special young men,” said Tyndall. “We have to get back to work, so we can get back in the championship game next year.”
Junior Demonte Harper topped the Eagles, which fell to 23-10, with 20 points while Faried added his 23rd double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Isaiah Canaan led Murray State (30-4) with 16 points.
Faried and senior Maze Stallworth were named to the All-Tournament team from Morehead State.
Morehead State finished 17 of 50 from the field for 34 percent, including six of 17 from three-point range. The Eagles hit 11 of 12 from the free throw line but were outrebounded 35-30
