MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Power forward
Jon Carroll posted his sixth double-double of the season with 22 points (tying his career high) and 10 rebounds as the Morehead State men's basketball team fended off Tennessee Tech 73-66 Thursday at Johnson Arena.
MSU (14-12/10-5 OVC) led by as much as 20 in the second half before the Golden Eagles shredded into their deficit. Tech was never able to climb closer than six, however as it fell to 10-16 overall and 5-10 in the league.
Carroll hit 9-of-12 from the floor, scoring the 22 and grabbing four of his 10 rebounds on the offensive glass. He was joined in double figures by
George Marshall on Senior Night with his 18th game this season with 10+. Marshall scored 14.
Anouar Mellouk also dotted double digits with 12 points and added seven rebounds. The teams tied in the rebound column, 34-34.
MSU forced the Golden Eagles into a tough night shooting from beyond the three-point arc at just 5-of-21. Tech was 0-of-12 on triples in the first half. Morehead State didn't light it up from deep either at just 4-of-14 but the Eagles nailed 15 of their 18 free throws and had just nine turnovers.
Morehead State built a 20-point advantage (42-22) with 17:44 left in the contest as Mellouk scored a bucket. Tech began to chip away and eventually trailed just 59-53 with 4:29 left. Three other times Tech had it within six. MSU was 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final minute.Â
The Eagles crafted a double-digit lead in the first half with 11 minutes remaining.
Morehead State shot 49 percent (27-of-55) for the night and limited Tech to just 40 percent (25-of-63).Â
MSU returns to action on Saturday as the Eagles host Tennessee State at 3:30 p.m. ET.
