Men's Hoops Rolls to Victory at Eastern Illinois

BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Men's Basketball shot a season-high 58 percent, including 62 percent in the second half, as the Eagles gradually pulled away and roughed up host Eastern Illinois 82-46 Thursday evening at Lantz Arena.

The Eagles improved to 21-9 overall and 13-4 in the OVC, tying the program record for the largest-ever victory margin over the Panthers (tying the 2012 75-39 win) and marking the highest victory margin ever at EIU. It also marked the first time since EIU joined the OVC in 1996-97 that the Eagles have won in back to back seasons at Lantz Arena. 

Second-year big man Johni Broome was his usual self, contributing a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots. Broome now has 121 blocks this season, the fourth highest single-season total in OVC history.

But, many more Eagles contributed as junior Jaylon Hall, coming off a career-high point total versus SEMO Saturday, cashed in 14 points. Junior center LJ Bryan came off the bench to chip in a season-high 10 points while nearly missing a double-double himself with eight rebounds. Also notably, freshman Braden May canned a late three-pointer for his first collegiate points.

The Eagles built a 33-22 halftime lead and kept pushing it out in the final half, eventually holding the Panthers to the 46 points, which marked a season-low for an MSU opponent. The Eagles' largest lead was 39 (82-43) in the waning seconds.

Morehead State was just 4-of-11 from behind the three-point arc in the first 20 minutes but drilled seven three-balls in the final half for 11 for the game. It's the ninth game this year with double-digit three-pointers.

The Eagles also out-rebounded their 20th different foe this year, trailing 18-15 at the half, but leading on the boards when the final horn sounded, 33-29.

MSU wraps up the regular season Saturday with a 4:30 p.m. ET contest at SIUE.