Second-Half Scoring Droughts Hamper Men's Hoops in Setback at No. 23 Ohio State

BOX SCORE

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Morehead State men's basketball was hampered by two scoring droughts of more than six minutes in the second half after hanging tight at No. 23 Ohio State in the opening half Wednesday night at the Covelli Center. The Eagles ultimately absorbed a 77-44 setback to the Buckeyes.

The Eagles (1-3), who were playing their third top-25 ranked foe in 2020-21, were held scoreless from the 13:14 mark of the second stanza to the 7:39 mark, and while Ohio State (3-0) only scored seven during that stretch, the margin proved too tough to overcome. Later on the Eagles were held without a made field goal in the final 7:39.

Junior guard Skyelar Potter finished with a team-best and MSU career-high 13 points, while junior guard DeVon Cooper registered his third consecutive double-figure effort with 11 points.

The Eagles shot 41 percent in the first half but unfortunately cooled off to hit just 13 (4-of-30) percent in the final half when the home team distanced itself and outscored MSU 40-17.

KEY MOMENTS

- The Eagles' first lead, albeit short-lived, came at 7-6 when Ta'lon Cooper drained a long three-pointer at the 15:16 mark of the opening half.
- After falling behind 17-9, DeVon Cooper's three-ball at the 9:24 mark had the Eagles back to within 17-14.
- Down 30-18, James Baker and Potter delivered back to back three-pointers to bring the Eagles back within six, at 30-24.
- A 7-0 run by the hosts pushed them back out to double digits for the rest of the game. Julius Dixon canned a long distance shot with 12 seconds left in the half for a 37-27 halftime score.
- The Eagles were within 49-37 after Potter's second triple at 13:14 in the final half, but the scoring drought of more than six minutes hampered a rally thought.

KEY STATS

- The Eagles grabbed 12 offensive rebounds but that only translated into two second-chance points.
- MSU had its best night of the year at the free throw line, though, shooting 84 percent (11-of-16).
- DeVon Cooper added a team-best seven rebounds, a game after grabbing a career-high 12 against Arkansas State.
- Ohio State out-rebounded the Eagles, 43-32.
- Morehead State did not hit a field goal in the final seven minutes of the game.

QUOTING COACH SPRADLIN

"I thought our guys really competed and played a really nice first-half. I thought we did a nice job with our energy and emotion. When you only hit four field goals in the second half, it's tough to win. They (OSU) did a great job in the second half on getting back in transition defense. They tightened up. Sometimes it's defeating when you are doing the right stuff and you are just missing layups. We just didn't score any baskets. I really didn't feel like that was a 30-point loss. We were starting to get offensive rebounds but we just could not finish possessions. We'll look at the film and figure out what we can do better." 

"We need to be physical, and I appreciate (Ohio State head coach) Chris (Holtmann) and his comments this week that this would probably be the most physical game they had played in. When we get to OVC play, we are going to have to be physical and we want to be known as one of the toughest teams."

UP NEXT

The Eagles are set to open Ohio Valley Conference action with an early battle against rival Eastern Kentucky on the road on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. ET.