MOREHEAD, Ky. — The Morehead State men’s basketball team outscored visiting UT Martin 44-22 in the second half Saturday and pulled away for a 76-44 victory at Johnson Arena, marking MSU’s seventh consecutive Ohio Valley Conference triumph.
The Eagles (11-6/8-2 OVC) equaled their longest conference winning streak since 2010-11 (the year they won the OVC Tournament) while continuing their hottest league start since being 9-1 in 2009-10. UTM dropped its 10th straight game to fall to 3-10 and 1-8 in the conference. MSU has now won 12 straight home games against UTM in the series with the Skyhawks’ last win in Morehead coming on Dec. 12, 2005.
Junior guard DeVon Cooper and freshman forward Johni Broome each scored 13 points to pace MSU’s offensive effort, which shot 61 percent (16-of-26) just in the second half. Cooper reached double-digits for the seventh straight game and 14th overall to lead the team. Broome nearly had his fifth double-double and second straight with a team-high eight rebounds.
The 44 points allowed were a season-best for the OVC’s top scoring defensive team, while the Eagles also lead the OVC in rebounding margin and led today on the boards, 45-28. A 7-for-13 effort from behind the three-point arc also helped MSU distance itself today after missing all nine triple attempts in the first 20 minutes.
KEY MOMENTS
– A jumper by UTM’s Cameron Holden with 13:04 left in the opening half gave his team its largest lead at 11-6, but a minute later a layup by junior forward Jaylen Sebree kick-started a 10-0 run that junior guard Skyelar Potter put the stamp on at 9:41 with a jumper.
– Morehead State ended the first half on a 10-3 run that pushed its halftime break lead to 32-22.
– Junior forward LJ Bryan wrestled free for a slam dunk with 12:27 left in the game that pushed the Eagles’ lead to 48-29. Moments later the lead ballooned into the 20s as Cooper drained the three-pointer at 11:05.
– Freshman guard Drew Thelwell, who scored a career-high five points, buried his second career three-pointer with 3:20 left that lifted the home team into its largest lead of the day, 73-38 (+35).
KEY STATS
– MSU’s +17 rebound margin was its second highest in a game this season.
– Senior forward James Baker scored in double figures for the fourth straight outing, putting in 12 markers.
– Also with a blocked shot tonight, Baker moved into a tie with George Williams (1973-74) for third on the career blocks liast at MSU with 115.
– Junior guard KJ Hunt, Jr., filled out the stat sheet with eight points, career-high seven rebounds and six assists.
– Ranking ninth in the nation in Division I in blocked shots, MSU swatted nine more tonight to up it season total to 82. Broome turned back four UTM shot attempts.
– Holden was the lone UTM player on the floor with double-digit scoring to his credit. He had 16.
UP NEXT
The Eagles are scheduled to make the trip south this week to face Jacksonville State on Thursday night. The game is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. MSU topped JSU 56-55 at home on Jan. 9.