SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Ohio 85,
Austin Peay 82 (OT)
Belmont 91, @Kennesaw State 53
Eastern Illinois 90, Arkansas State 86 (OT) (Asheville, N.C.)
@Murray State 77, Missouri State 66
OHIO 85, AUSTIN PEAY 82 (OT)
ATHENS, Ohio - Five Austin Peay State University men's basketball players scored in double figures and the Govs limited Ohio to an atrocious shooting mark in the second half, displaying the fight, grit and tenacity that has become a hallmark of head coach Matt Figger's program.
However, when the chips were down the Bobcats willed themselves to the line and the Govs' last-gasp attempt on the road came up short at the Convocation Center in an 85-82 overtime loss.
Ohio (3-2) started the contest absolutely red-hot, hitting 11 of their first 14 shots from the floor to stake a commanding lead. The Bobcats shooting prowess, coupled with an uncharacteristically sloppy half in terms of ball control (nine turnovers) and shooting (11-of-33, 33.3 percent) saw the Govs down by as much as 18 points and the halftime deficit at 14 (42-28).
But the beginning of the second half saw new life seep into Austin Peay's (2-4) playing style, and the Govs quickly set about erasing the deficit before them. The Govs embarked on a 21-7 run over the first eight-plus minutes of the half to completely eradicate Ohio's lead, with senior Steve Harris scoring nine of his 13 points during this stretch and Zach Glotta nailing two pivotal three-pointers to aid the Austin Peay run.
It should be noted that while Austin Peay's shooting coming alive certainly helped erase the deficit, the Govs clamped down defensively to limit what Ohio was able to do on the other end of the court. After Ohio started on that torrid 11-of-14 pace to begin the contest, Austin Peay allowed the Bobcats to hit just 20 of their final 57 shots, a 35.1 percent clip that extended throughout the second half and overtime.
At this point, the two teams engaged in a frantic, physical affair that saw neither truly grab the upper hand. The Govs would lead by as many as three, the Bobcats by four at two different points but neither could truly put the other team away. When Teyvion Kirk hit two free-throws with 33 seconds left to put the Bobcats up four, however, it looked to be dire for the Governors.
Glotta stepped up once again with a three in the corner in front of the Governors bench, but still Austin Peay needed a break. They got in the form of Gavin Block, who went 1-for-2 at the line to make it a two-point game, followed by two bricks at the stripe by Kirk with 11 seconds to go. Sophomore Dayton Gumm will his way into the paint and got a lay-up to drop and sophomore Terry Taylor stole the subsequent inbounds pass to force the extra session.
Senior Chris Porter-Bunton got the overtime off to a good start with a bucket, and when Taylor followed with a three to make it a five-point game—which it remained until less than two minutes were left on the clock—the Govs looked to be in good shape. However, Kirk hit two free-throws and Jason Carter a lay-up to cut it to a one-point lead, and Block and Kirk both made free-throws down the stretch to help ice the game for Ohio, who hit just once from the floor but were 6-of-6 at the line in the extra session. After hitting their first two shots in the extra session, the Govs missed their final seven shots from the floor.
BELMONT 91, KENNESAW STATE 53
KENNESAW, Ga. - Belmont University men's basketball showcased balanced scoring and unified defense in defeating Kennesaw State, 91-53, Saturday.
The Bruins (5-1) entered having eclipsed the century mark twice in their first four games, but a trademark fast start did not materialize.
A series of mysterious bounces and rim outs from close range halted momentum. After freshman Nick Muszynski tied the score at 15, a Bobby Parker basket gave Kennesaw State a 21-15 lead at the 9:53 mark.
Consecutive steals and scores from freshman Grayson Murphy ignited the Bruins, who proceeded to hold the Owls without a field goal for the next six and a half minutes. Seven different Bruins scored during a dazzling 22-1 run, with Belmont seizing a 41-24 lead at the 2:45 mark on another Muszynski basket. Belmont led 45-31 at halftime. Belmont shot 49 percent (18-for-37) from the field in the opening 20 minutes and forced nine Kennesaw State turnovers.
The Bruins broke the game open in the second half, as more efficient play and a flurry of 3-pointers from senior Kevin McClain, freshman Caleb Hollander and junior Michael Benkert made the score 68-41 with 10:21 remaining. Meanwhile, Belmont held Kennesaw State to 8-for-37 shooting in the second half.
All told, Belmont shot 51 percent (35-for-69) from the field - including 9-for-21 from 3-point distance. Belmont outrebounded Kennesaw State, 53-35.
Six Belmont players scored in double figures, with senior All-America candidate Dylan Windler posting 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocked shots. McClain had 14 points and four assists, while junior Seth Adelsperger (Peru, Ind.) scored a career-high 13 points.
Muszynski and Murphy each had 13, and Hollander recorded his second double-double in the last three games with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Tyler Hooker led Kennesaw State (1-6) with 30 points.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 90, ARKANSAS STATE 86 (OT)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Josiah Wallace scored 31 points with all of them coming in the second half and overtime session as Eastern Illinois won its second game in as many days with a 90-86 win over Arkansas State in the visitcurrituckOBX.com Battle in the Blue Ridge in Asheville, N.C.
EIU improved to 3-2 on the season. ASU fell to 1-4.
The Panthers trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half but closed to within six points with 3:01 to play. JaQualis Matlock then made a pair of free throws and brought EIU to within one point with 1:45 to play with a three point play.
Wallace then gave EIU its first lead of the game with a three point play with 1:10 to play at 75-73. Ty Cockfield answered for ASU with a driving lay-up as the senior guard led the Red Wolves with 24 points countering most of the Panthers second half runs by himself.
ASU then held the lead in the final seconds with Wallace forcing overtime with a running jumper in the lane with 1.4 seconds left in the contest.
In overtime Wallace hit back-to-back jumpers in the overtime session to give EIU an 85-80 lead with just over two minutes to play. Wallace had ten of his points in overtime with the Panthers scoring 13 as a team in the extra time.
In the opening half Arkansas State was able to get EIU into some early foul trouble as the Red Wolves made 15-of-16 from the free throw line to post a 32-24 lead at the break. ASU was able to get good production from its bench with Malik Brevard finishing with a double-double at 13 points and ten rebounds. ASU finished the game with 43 points off the bench.
The Panthers finished with a 45-42 advantage on the glass. Mack Smith had his second career double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds. Rade Kukobat narrowly missed a double-double with 13 points, nine rebounds. Matlock added seven points, seven rebounds coming off the bench for the first time this season.
MURRAY STATE 77, MISSOURI STATE 66
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State sophomore Ja Morant posted his second triple-double in his Racer career to lead the Racers to a 77-66 victory over the visiting Missouri State Bears Saturday at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.
The Racers (3-0) stayed undefeated in the early season as they hit the road for the first time Monday in Tuscaloosa against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Morant, already with one triple-double at MSU (last December against Eastern Illinois at home), the star sophomore poured in 29 points on 9-of-18 from the field including 6-of-12 from the 3-point line. He also added 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Morant's points, 3-point baskets and rebounds are all career highs in his short time at Murray State that is only 35 games old.
Shaq Buchanan added his own big game with 20 points on 7-of-13 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Buchanan and Morant combined for 49 points on 16-of-31 from the field in the game.
After beginning the game on a Morant to Buchanan alley-oop dunk, the Racers jumped to a 10-point lead at the 14:34 mark on a Morant 3-pointer. When Tevin Brown hit a three and Anthony Smith scored on a put-back, the Racers were in front 18-6 and later made it 20-9 at the 10:54 mark.
Murray State led 35-25 at the half.
The Racers had their largest lead of the game when Darnell Cowart hit a pair of free throws with 13:27 remaining. The Bears cut the lead to 64-58 with 3:39 left to raise the tension level in the arena. Morant hit a pair of threes to keep the Racers in front 70-60 with 2:41 left and then he put an exclamation point on the evening with his sixth 3-pointer of the game with 11 seconds on the clock.
The Racers defended the 3-point line in a big way as they held the Bears to 1-of-16 for the night for seven percent.
Murray State also won the battle of the boards 36-21.