BOX SCORE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Morehead State Men's Basketball held a nine-point halftime lead over Lindenwood in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday night, but Lindenwood's perfect night at the free throw line ultimately did the Eagles in as MSU ended its season with a 73-65 setback at the Ford Center.
Lindenwood, the No. 6 seed, finished 28-of-28 at the free throw line, including 25-of-25 in the second half as the Lions outscored the Eagles 52-35 in the final 20 minutes. MSU, the No. 7 seed, closed its 2024-25 season (the first under head coach
Jonathan Mattox) at 15-17.
Kenny White, Jr., wrapped up his college career with a team-high 12 points and finished with 1,035 career points at four schools. White Jr., led the Eagles in scoring this season with 368 points.
Tyler Brelsford, in his fifth college season and lone one at MSU, also scored in double figures with 10 points. It also marked the final collegiate games for
Dieonte Miles and
Kade Ruegsegger.
Morehead State was held to just 32 percent in the second half and 35 percent overall. MSU limited the Lions to just 27 percent in the first half, but Lindenwood shot 44 percent in the final half when it outscored MSU by 17.
Lindenwood ended up besting the Eagles by 19 points in totals at the free throw line.
The Lions scored the game's first points, but
Steven Clay drained his first of three triples at the 19:19 mark and MSU never trailed again in the first half, building the 30-21 lead. The Lions' next lead didn't come until the 16:31 mark of the final half when Jadis Jones dropped in a bucket. White's three-pointer at the 4:19 mark gave the Eagles their final lead (54-53), but just 22 seconds later Reggie Bass' two free throws catapulted Lindenwood back into a lead it never gave up.
Bass was the main catalyst in the free throw extravaganza, going 17-of-17 at the line for a team-high 23 points. Anias Futrell had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Lions had a 45-40 rebound advantage.
