BOX SCORE (HTML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | PHOTO GALLERY
MOREHEAD, Ky.—Perhaps it was fitting that Morehead State’s three men’s basketball seniors each scored two points to begin the game, starting off with Kenneth Faried’s trademark two-handed dunk. Or maybe that all three scored in double figures, the only three players to tally double-digit scoring for MSU.
Either way, Saturday’s 64-52 Ohio Valley Conference win over Southeast Missouri was an emotion-filled victory from before tip-off when Faried, Demonte Harper and Sam Goodman were all honored prior to the game as part of the senior day celebrations. Faried also had his jersey retired just before tip-off along with women’s basketball senior Chynna Bozeman.
“It was very emotional, all three of those guys have given their heart and soul to this program,” MSU coach Donnie Tyndall said. “For Kenneth and Chynna too, it’s just so special for those young people. What they’ve accomplished, what they’ve meant, not just to our basketball programs, to our athletic department and to our university.”
The win was MSU’s seventh straight, its longest winning streak of the season, and it improved the Eagles to 19-8 overall and 11-4 in the OVC. The Redhawks fell to 7-19 overall and 5-10 in conference play.
Faried had 23 points and 16 rebounds to lead all scorers. He also had three blocks and four steals. Harper and Goodman each had 12 points.
Starting with the seniors’ first six, the Eagles scored 13 of the first 15 points and led 13-2 in the first five minutes of the game. But the Redhawks recovered and kept pace with MSU the remainder of the way in the first half, never allowing the lead to balloon over 11, which is where it was at halftime after freshman Dionte Ferguson hit a 12-foot straightaway jumper to make the lead double digits.
“Offensively it was like pulling teeth, we could never get in rhythm,” Tyndall said. “I think maybe the emotion early in the game had something to do with that.”
The Redhawks cut into the lead mid-way through the second half, scoring five quick points on a triple from Lucas Nutt and layup by Marcus Brister to pull within five with 10:12 to play. Two free throws by Harper and a dunk and layup by Faried pushed the lead back to 11. SEMO threatened one more time, this time closing to within seven on a dunk by Cameron Butler, but a layup by Harper negated the dunk and made free throws in the final three minutes gave MSU the win.
“All-in-all it was a good win against a team that has no quit in them at all, and I thought we matched the physicality,” Tyndall said.
Leon Powell finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, joining Brister, who also had seven, for the team lead on the glass. Nutt and Anthony Allison each scored 10 points. Brister also had a game-high seven assists.
Morehead State next plays at arch rival Eastern Kentucky Wednesday. Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. There will be a bus for MSU students that includes a game ticket and gift, all for free. Signup for the bus is in ADUC 211.
