HTML STATS | PDF STATS | ARCHIVED BROADCAST
MARTIN, Tenn. --The Morehead State men’s basketball team held UT Martin to 22 percent shooting in the first half and cruised to an 88-74 win on Saturday evening at the Elam Center.
The Eagles improve to 10-10 overall, 4-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 3-8 on the road. The Skyhawks fall to 4-15 on the season, 1-6 in league action and 4-5 in home affairs.
Morehead State improves to 30-13 in the all-time series with its seventh consecutive win over UT Martin. The Skyhawks have also dropped 10 of their last 11 contests this year.
“It feels great to sweep an OVC road weekend,” Head Coach Sean Woods said. “We have a good thing going right now -- and it’s because our players have bought in to what we’re trying to do.”
Senior Kahlil Owens led four Morehead State players in double figures with a career-high 16 points. Junior Bakari Turner added 14, while senior Devon Atkinson had 12 and senior Milton Chavis had 11.
“Kahlil played really well tonight,” Woods said. “He was efficient with his shots and did some nice things around the basket. Give our guards credit, too, for getting him the ball in our offense.”
Owens drilled 8-of-9 from the floor for his best effort in 42 Division I games. Junior Chad Posthumus, who entered the night averaging 10.4 rebounds in OVC play, pulled down a team-high eight.
Atkinson also dished out a career-high 12 assists -- the most by an OVC player this year -- en route to his first double-double in 46 Division I contests. The Eagles tallied 26 helpers on 33 baskets.
“I’m so proud of the way Devon ran our team tonight,” Woods said. “That was the best he’s played all season, and we certainly need that type of effort for us to be successful as a team.”
Morehead State tied its season high in scoring vs. D-I opponents this season. The Eagles held a 39-27 halftime lead and added 49 points on 62 percent shooting after the intermission.
Morehead State used a 14-0 run midway through the first half to grab control. The Eagles pushed their advantage to a game-high 24 points less than four minutes into the second stanza.
MSU canned 54 percent (33-of-61) from the floor, 47 percent (9-of-19) from three-point range and 81 percent (13-of-16) from the free-throw line. The Eagles committed just 13 turnovers.
UTM drilled just 34 percent (18-of-53) from the field, but did make 40 percent (10-of-25) from long distance and 76 percent (28-of-37) from the foul line. The Skyhawks committed 17 miscues.
Junior Mike Liabo and sophomore Terence Smith led UTM with 19 points apiece. The duo combined for 9-of-15 from beyond the arc and Liabo scored 16 of his points in the second half.
Morehead State posted advantages of 36-16 in paint points, 22-12 in points off turnovers and 46-31 in bench points. The Eagle reserves have now outscored the opposition in 17 of 20 games this year.
Morehead State will play six of its next eight games at Johnson Arena. The Eagles open the stretch with home contests against Belmont on Thursday and Tennessee State on Saturday. Those two squads were a combined 11-0 in conference play entering the day.
“Belmont and Tennessee State will be a challenge, but we’re looking forward to it,” Woods added. “The goal from day one has been to win an OVC championship -- and this coming weekend will be a great test to show us where we are as a program with five weeks left in the regular season.”
