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MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State’s Kevin Thomas hit a three-pointer with 28 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, allowing the host Racers to escape with a 70-65 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team Saturday night. The Racers (18-11, 13-5 OVC) will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming OVC tournament while the Colonels (18-12, 10-8 OVC) will be the No. 5 seed.

Sophomore Justin Stommes paced Eastern with 18 points on 77.8 percent (7-of-9) shooting to go along with a season-high five assists. Senior Mike Rose added 13 points, but missed the potential game-winning three-pointer at the end of regulation.

Isacc Thomas recorded 18 points for Murray State while Thomas chipped in with three three-pointers for 13 points. Ivan Aska came off the bench to chip in with 16 points and six rebounds.

The first half featured four ties and six lead changes. Junior Robin Mestdagh’s lay-in with 5:52 showing on the clock gave EKU the lead for good in the first half, 22-20. A Stommes dunk in the final minute of the stanza put the Colonels ahead by eight, 35-27, heading into intermission.

Eastern Kentucky shot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the floor and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range in the first half.

Murray State’s defense held the Colonels without a field goal for almost six minutes to begin the second half, helping the Racers cut the deficit to one point, 37-36. The Racers briefly regained the lead on a Tyler Holloway three-pointer, but a Josh Taylor dunk and Jorge Camacho lay-up put EKU back up by three points with nine minutes left, 47-44.

Eastern Kentucky continued to hold a slim lead down the stretch and went ahead 60-56 following a Rose bucket with 1:56 left. Two MSU free throws slashed the deficit back to two points before junior Papa Oppong netted 1-of-2 charity shots with 45 ticks left to make the score 61-58. On Murray State’s ensuing possession, Thomas drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key to even the score.

Rose held the ball for a final shot in regulation, but came up short on his pull-up three-point attempt.

Murray State never trailed in the extra session. Following a tie at 63-all, the Racers converted seven free throws in the final 2:31 to hold off the Colonels. Eastern Kentucky was 1-of-8 (12.5 percent) shooting in overtime and 0-for-4 from behind the arc.

Eastern Kentucky will travel to the No. 4 seed Morehead State in the quarterfinals of the OVC tournament Tuesday, March 3. Tip time will be approximately 7:30 p.m.