Eagles hold on in closing seconds for 70-67 win at EKU

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RICHMOND, Ky. – In front of a raucous crowd of 3,900 at McBrayer Arena, juniors Xavier Moon and DeJuan Marrero helped lead Morehead State to a 70-67 win over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday night.

MSU (12-9, 6-3) has won back-to-back contests and three of its last four games, while EKU (12-12, 3-6) suffered its first three-game losing streak of the season.

"We found a way to win tonight and I think the main thing was that we limited their three-point shooting. We held one of the best three-point shooting teams in our league to just one three-pointer," said head coach Sean Woods. "Everybody played well tonight, we got contributions from so many different players in clutch situations."

With 1:57 left to play in the second half and the game tied at 62, senior Brent Arrington drained a three from the right wing to give the Eagles a 65-62 lead.
 
EKU pulled within one after Nick Mayo's jumper, but Arrington hit one of two at the free throw line, adding to the MSU lead with 1:10 left in regulation. The Colonels pulled the game back within one for the final time at 68-67, but free throws by sophomore Miguel Dicent extended the lead and then the Eagles' defense got a stop as the clock wound down.

Morehead State shot just 36 percent for the game after shooting 30 percent in the first half. EKU shot 46 percent from the floor, but the Eagles limited the Colonels, one of the best three-point shooting teams in the OVC, to 1-of-17 shooting from deep. 

MSU also controlled the glass, pulling down five more rebounds and 17 offensive rebounds on the game.

Moon scored a team-high 14 points, while Marrero collected his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Senior center Anthony Elechi scored double figures for the fourth straight game with 12 points and nabbed eight or more rebounds for the third time over his last four games. Senior forward Lyonell Gaines came off the bench and played a pivotal role with 10 points. MSU outscored the EKU bench 17-10.
 
Mayo recorded a game-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Jarelle Reischel added 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the Colonels.
 
The Eagles travel to Belmont for a Thursday night match-up with the Bruins. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.