Men's Hoops Wins Thriller Over IUPUI, 74-70

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MOREHEAD, Ky. – Sophomore forward Malek Green recorded his first double-double of the season, and senior forward Lamontray Harris poured in a season-best 20 points as the Morehead State men's basketball team withstood a furious battle with IUPUI Friday night to defeat the Jaguars 74-70 at Johnson Arena.
 
The Eagles moved to 4-8 on the year and won for the first time in the series history with IUPUI. The 'Jags dropped their second straight to fall to 8-5.
 
 "We have been talking with our guys about how to win games, and we've had some close games we haven't won," said head coach Preston Spadlin. "Credit our guys and our coaches. We had a great scouting report, and we took them out of some things they do well. We needed this win."
 
Green hit six of his seven field goals and scored 13 to go along with a game-best 11 rebounds. He also drove to the bucket from the far right side with 39 seconds left and laid one in as the shot clock expired to give the Eagles their 72^nd and eventual game-deciding points.
 
Harris was 8-of-14 from the floor and nearly had his OVC-leading sixth double-double with nine rebounds. The Eagles won the battle on the boards, 45-40.
 
Junior guard Jordan Walker tallied his ninth double-figure effort with 16 points, including a pair of free throws with six ticks left to seal the deal. Senior guard A.J. Hicks stuffed the state sheet as well with nine points to go along with season-highs in assists (9) and rebounds (8).
 
In the opening half, MSU nailed two quick triples for a 6-0 lead. IUPUI started 2-for-10 from the field, and MSU started 5-for-10.
 
Harris had 11 points in the first nine minutes. IUPUI cut it to 21-13 at 10:18, but a 7-0 Eagle run in the next 1:29 pushed it back to 28-13.
 
However, IUPUI outscored the Eagles 24-8 in the final 8:22 to take a 37-36 lead at halftime and scored first four of the final half.
 
In the final half, the visitors led 44-38 with 16:18 left, but the Eagles turned the tide with an 8-3 flurry to take the lead back at 47-46. From that point on, no team led by more than five until MSU pushed ahead 74-68 with seven seconds remaining.
 
Hindman, Ky., native Camron Justice led the Jaguars with 20 points.
 
"We knew he would probably be able to score 20, which he did, but we did a nice job limiting his looks," said Spradlin. "Credit Djimon (Henson) especially for his defense today as Camron was just 6-for-20."
 
Morehead State shot 45 percent overall and also nailed 14-of-18 free throws.
 
The Eagles return to action after the holidays at Missouri. Tip-off in Columbia, Mo., is on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. ET.