BOX SCORE
RICHMOND, Ky. – The EKU men's basketball team cut a nine-point second half deficit to two – twice, but Morehead State University held on for a 67-62 victory on Saturday at McBrayer Arena.
The Eagles went on an 11-4 run to open a nine-point lead, 52-43, with 12:11 left to play, but back-to-back baskets by
Asante Gist got an 11-4 run for the Colonels started. A lay-up by Gist followed by a tip-in from
Zach Charles and a three-pointer from the left corner by
Dillon Avare capped the run and made it 52-50 with 9:49 remaining in the game.
MSU scored the next seven points to fuel a 10-3 run. Miguel Dicent's jumper with 6:08 to go capped the run and put the visitors in front by nine again, 62-53.
But, seven straight Eastern Kentucky points allowed the home squad to get within two again. Gist started it with two free throws. Mayo scored a basket and a free throw before Avare sank two free throws to make it 62-60 with 2:37 on the clock.
Eastern (10-17, 3-9 OVC) missed on a three pointer with 37 seconds left that would have put the team up one. Morehead State (13-12, 9-3 OVC) made 3-of-4 at the free throw line in the final 21 seconds to secure the win.
Gist led EKU with 20 points to go along with four assists and three steals.
Nick Mayo scored 17 points and pulled down six rebounds. Avare hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
Xavier Moon had a team-best 16 points and nine rebounds for Morehead State. DeJuan Marrero added 14 points and six boards.
The Colonels outshot the Eagles 43 percent to 41 percent. MSU out-rebounded Eastern by 19 and turned 16 offensive rebounds into a 12-2 advantage in second-chance points.
The score changed hands seven times and was tied on four occasions in the first half. EKU went in front 18-15 on a lay-up by
Isaac McGlone and a free throw from Charles. Morehead State answered with a 17-6 run to go up eight and led by that same margin, 35-27, at the break.
Eastern Kentucky will play at Belmont on Thursday. The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
