OMAHA, NE --Riley Minix scored 27 points and Jordan Lathon added 23, but the Morehead State men's basketball team fell to the Illinois Fighting Illini 85-69 at CHI Health Center Omaha Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Eagles' magical season ended with a 26-9 record. It marked the program record for wins. MSU was in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last four seasons, both times a 14-seed.
"We tell our team there will be times we don't play very well and win," said Head Coach Preston Spradlin, "and there are going to be times we play extremely well and come up short. That is that instance here today. If you're going to have your season end, we want to check three boxes: Play well, stay together, and we truly did that despite the score, and then you want to lose to a worthy opponent, and Illinois was."
The OVC Player of the Year, Minix finished third in single-season scoring with 733 points this year. Drew Thelwell added to his single-season MSU record for assists with four, culminating in 211 for the year.
Led by Minix's three offensive rebounds, Morehead State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 12 boards that resulted in 12 second chance points.
The Eagles only trailed 39-38 at the half, but Illinois' power took over in the second half. Dain Dainja finished 9-for-9 with 21 points.
How It Happened
Morehead State started out the scoring by going on a 9-0 run, culminating in a three from Lathon, to take an early lead with 18:23 left in the first half. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 39-38.
Illinois kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing an 84-60 advantage before Morehead State went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Lathon's jumper, to shrink the deficit to 84-67 with 1:02 to go in the contest.
Game Notes
» Morehead State found success from three point land, knocking down 11 treys in the game.
»
Riley Minix,
Jordan Lathon, and
Drew Thelwell combined to account for 84 percent of the Eagles points.
» Morehead State turned the ball over six times while dishing out 14 assists.
» Morehead State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
»
Riley Minix had a game-high 27 points and
Jordan Lathon added 23.
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