Morton's Career High Not Enough to Overcome SIUE as Eagle Men Fall Thursday

BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State sophomore guard Jerone Morton scored a career-high 21 points, but it proved to not be enough as visiting SIUE outscored the Eagle men's basketball team by 12 at the free throw line to win 80-62 at Johnson Arena Thursday night.

Morton hit a career-best 10 field goals and also added three assists and three steals but the Eagles lost their sixth consecutive game to dip to 14-14 overall and 9-8 in the OVC. It's MSU's first six-game losing skid since 2017-18 and the first time falling in four straight home games since 2014-15.

MSU could not slow down SIUE's Ray'Sean Taylor who scored 33 points (12-of-12 free throws) and also added a team-high seven rebounds. He was one of four Cougars scoring in double figures. SIUE ended up shooting 52 percent overall and 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range. Morehead State did out-rebound the visitors 33-30. The Eagles have now grabbed more rebounds than the opponent in 11 of the last 12 games. Tyler Brelsford, Kenny White, Jr., and George Marshall all had five boards apiece.

A lay-in by the Cougars' Miles Thompson with 13:55 left in the first half gave his team a 10-8 lead, and the Cougars did not surrender their advantage the rest of the night. SIUE led 35-30 at the half and increased it to double digits before the Eagles rallied a bit. MSU trailed 52-45 with 10:44 left following Dieonte Miles' free throws. SIUE proceeded to push the margin out to as much as 20 late in the contest.

Miles also had a solid game for the Eagles, scoring 11 points on five buckets. MSU finished at 42 percent overall but only hit 4-of-19 three-pointers.

The Eagles' final home game is Saturday when Eastern Illinois visits for a 3:30 p.m. ET game.