Men's Hoops Shakes Off Tough Offensive Night, Turns to Defense for 51-47 Comeback Victory

BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- It was a grind it out kind of night for the Morehead State Men's Basketball team Thursday against Western Illinois. With both shot clocks not working tonight at Johnson Arena, the game became an old fashioned rock fight, and the Eagles erased a nine-point deficit to rally and defeat the Leathernecks 51-47. 

Morehead State lost the lead with 5:28 to go in the first half and didn't gain it back until 2:44 left in the game. The Eagles held WIU to just four points in the last 8:45 as MSU remained in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference at 6-1 and moved to 11-7 overall. MSU has now won 36 straight games when its opponent scores 60 or less. The Eagles also remained perfect at home at 7-0 and are now 35-3 at home in the past three seasons.

WIU fell to 8-10 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

"I think we are comfortable in these games. We've got a good defensive team," said head coach Jonathan Mattox. "We've got good length and quickness. No matter how the game is going and the situation, we tell them (the players) just keep playing. Our staff will figure it out. We just find a way. I appreciate the excitement around this program right now, and it's very beneficial for me as a first-year head coach. This is about the journey, not the destination. As long as we have the brotherhood in the locker room, we will be just fine."

Point guard Jerone Morton, who had played all 40 minutes in two straight games, played 38 tonight and led the Eagles with 17 points. He's scored in double figures in seven of the last eight contests. Kenny White, Jr., was a key catalyst in the comeback. He scored all 14 of his points in the second half, including eight in the rally after MSU fell behind 43-34 with 8:45 left. Anouar Mellouk recorded his second straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Sean Smith came off the bench to lead WIU with 11 points. Marko Maletic had 10 points but all the second half. MSU also held the league's top three-pointer shooter to 0-for-2 from long range.

The teams both struggled to find consistent offense. MSU led 13-9 with 7:24 left in the first half, but the visitors. went on an 8-0 run - capped by Maletic's fall away jumper - and pushed ahead 17-13 with 4:43 left. WIU led 26-21 at the half and went on to lead 43-34 with 8:45 left. White's jumper with 2:44 left finally gave MSU its first lead since the first half. A quick bucket from Smith on the other end briefly handed WIU a 47-46 lead, but Mellouk cashed in a three-point play with 1:18 left for the lead for good. Whit also blocked Smith's driving runner with 20.7 seconds left as WIU had one more chance. 

However, with three ticks left, WIU's inbound pass to Maletic in the corner in front of his bench led him too far, and he stepped out of bounds. Morton made a pair of free throws with two seconds left to ice the victory.

MSU won despite shooting just 31 percent, but the home team held the Leathernecks to just 36 percent and only 2-of-12 from distance. MSU also out-rebounded WIU 41-37.

MSU remains at home Saturday when Lindenwood visits at 3:30 p.m. ET.