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#2 Murray State 77, #1 Belmont 65
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Belmont,
Murray State
#2 MURRAY STATE 77, #1 BELMONT 65
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Ja Morant scored 22 of his 36 points in the second half and Murray State beat Belmont 77-65 on Saturday night in the Ohio Valley Conference championship to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.
The Racers (27-4) earned the first spot this year in the tournament.
Dylan Windler scored 17 points for Belmont (26-5) and Kevin McClain added 14. The Bruins (26-5) had won 15 in a row.
Belmont led by six at halftime and early in the second half before allowing the Racers to go on a 14-2 run.
The Bruins took a one-point lead with 3:40 left on Windler's jump-hook, but Morant answered with a layup and scored eight straight for Murray State. He also assisted on Brown's 3 from the wing to extend the Racers' lead to six with 56 seconds remaining. Darnell Cowart then drew a charge on the next possession to seal the win.
It was the second matchup this season between the OVC powers. Belmont won the first, 79-66, on the road Jan. 24.
2019 OVC All-Tournament Team
Jason Burnell, Jacksonville State
Kevin McClain, Belmont
Dylan Windler, Belmont
Ja Morant, Murray State
Darnell Cowart, Murray State
Tournament MVP: Ja Morant, Murray State