Men's Hoops Locks Down on Defense to Pick Up Crucial 59-53 Road Win at Little Rock

BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Point guard Jerone Morton scored a game-high 17 points, while forward Anouar Mellouk threw down three thunderous breakaway dunks and scored 14 as the Morehead State Men's Basketball team locked down on defense too to pick up a 59-53 league road win at Little Rock Thursday afternoon - the program's first-ever win at Little Rock.

On a cold and snowy day, the game was moved up to the afternoon to beat an impending winter storm. Both teams were also cold at times on offense, but the Eagles limited Little Rock to only 2-of-12 three pointers and just 20 points in the first half to improve to 9-7 overall and 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Trojans lost their second straight and fell to 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the league.

Morehead State had its struggles early on but kept the home team disrupted too. MSU actually didn't hit its first field goal until the 13:11 remained in the opening half on Mellouk's turnaround floater. But the Eagles still led 7-6 at that moment.

The game see-sawed back and forth for the next six minutes until a three-pointer by Eagle transfer Tyler Brelsford at 7;10. His triple put his team on top 20-18, and Morehead State never relinquished the lead the rest of the day. Little Rock managed to creep to within 35-34 with 13:28 left in the final half, but the Eagles' 7-0 run pushed it back out as Mellouk finished off he run with another slam. MSU's largest lead was 51-40 at the 5:02 mark before Little Rock attempted its rally. However, the Eagles' cushion never dipped below four until the final horn.

Mellouk was 7-of-10 shooting, while Morton came within one of his career high for points. MSU also got  a near double-double from Steven Clay with 10 points and a career-high eight boards.

MSU held the hosts to just 36 percent shooting, including a dismal 24 percent in the first half. Despite going 3-of-19 from distance itself, MSU managed to hit 42 percent overall. The visitors were 19-of-34 from inside the three-point line.

Isaiah Lewis paced the Trojans with 14 points, while Mwani Wilkinson nearly had a double-double too with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. 

Morehead State closes a four-game OVC road swing Saturday at Southeast Missouri where game time is 4:45 p.m. ET.