BOX SCORE
EVANSVILLE, IN -- Riley Minix scored 26 points, Kalil Thomas added a season-high 23 while hitting seven three-pointers to establish the program single-season triples record, and Drew Thelwell set the school single-season assist record as the Morehead State men's basketball team took down the UT Martin Skyhawks 84-78 at Ford Center Friday to advance to Saturday's league title matchup with Little Rock.
Saturday's championship bout will be the program's third appearance in the title game in the last four seasons.
Thomas drilled his first three three-point shots, giving him 96 for the season and surpassing Maze Stallworth's previous mark of 95. He went on to hit four more, pushing his season total to 100. Thelwell needed four assists to break Nik Stojakovic's record of 204 set in 2006-07, and he got just that. His record-breaking assist came with 43 seconds left on a layup by Eddie Ricks III.
Morehead State tied the program record for wins in a season (25-8 now), equaling the 1983-84 and 2010-11 squads.
MSU had four players score in double figures, led by Minix's 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Thomas tacked on his second double-double of the year too with the 23 points and 10 rebounds. Not only did Thelwell help with the assists, he also scored 17 points. Jordan Lathon scored 10 points.
MSU drained 16 three-pointers, a season-high, which was one short of the OVC Tournament record.
Morehead State out-rebounded UT Martin 45-38 in Friday's game, led by Thomas' 10 boards. The Eagles also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and scored 14 second-chance points.
How It Happened
After falling behind 20-15, Morehead State went on a 6-0 run with 9:50 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Minix, to take a 21-20 lead. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 41-37.
The game was tied 56-56 with 9:34 to go, but a 13-4 run spurred the Eagles to victory. MSU never trailed after that point. The Eagles led 76-64 with 2:34 left. UT Martin trimmed the margin back but never got to within lower than six.
Game Notes
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Kalil Thomas notched an impressive double-double for the Eagles with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Eagles shot well from three point range, knocking down 16 of 35 long range attempts.
» Morehead State tallied 20 total assists in the game.
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Riley Minix,
Kalil Thomas, and
Drew Thelwell combined to account for 79 percent of the Eagles points.
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Kalil Thomas was an assassin from behind the three point line, knocking down seven treys.
» Morehead State had a 45-38 edge on the boards in the win.
» Morehead State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
Up Next
The championship game versus the Trojans is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, the Eagle Sports Radio Network and Westwood One Radio.
