MONDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 82, Kentucky Christian 57
@Belmont 95, Furman 89 (OT)
@SIUE 75, Knox 37
Central Michigan 62,
@Eastern Illinois 61
MOREHEAD STATE 82, KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN 57
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State men's basketball shot 51 percent in the second half and shook off visiting Kentucky Christian Monday in the 2021-22 home opener as the Eagles outscored the Knights by 17 in the final 20-minute span to win 82-57.
The Eagles (1-2) had significant advantages in points in the paint (54-32), rebounds (53-29), second-chance points (27-2) and points off turnovers (23-10) as they improved to 10-0 all-time against the NAIA school from 35 miles east.
Second-year big man Johni Broome posted his second consecutive double-double and 15th of his career with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. Broome registered 10 points, 10 rebounds and all five of his career-high five blocked shots in the second half.
The Eagles also got a double-digit effort of 12 points off the bench from third-year man Tyzhaun Claude, who missed the entire 2020-21 campaign with an injury. Claude, who hit five of his six shots, also had five rebounds and two rejections. Grad transfer Tray Hollowell notched his second straight 10-point output as all 11 Eagles who dressed saw action.
MSU struggled to shake the Knights in the first half, hitting only 36 percent and going 4-of-17 from three-point range as they finally took a 37-29 lead into the locker room. Sophomore guard Ta'lon Cooper hit only three shots tonight but distributed a season-high six assists.
The Eagles' momentum picked up in the final half, eventually taking as much as a 27-point lead with 5:15 remaining after Claude's layup. While MSU did make 15 turnovers, the Eagles did force 22 mistakes from KCU.
KCU was led by Kourtney Ware, who had a game-high 24 points off the bench.
BELMONT 95, FURMAN 89 (OT)
NASHVILLE - In a game worthy of March Madness, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Furman, 95-89, in overtime Monday night from the Curb Event Center.
Two of the nation's top programs outside of Power 5 conferences did not disappoint in one of the most eagerly-anticipated games in recent memory.
The Bruins (2-1) and Paladins, known for efficient offense and mental toughness put that and more on display in a game characterized by inspired shotmaking and huge momentum swings.
Furman, coming off of victory at Louisville, led 32-25 before Belmont held the visitors scoreless the final 6:36 of the first half. JaCobi Wood sparked an 11-0 run as Belmont led 36-32 at halftime.
Belmont extended to a 44-39 lead on a Grayson Murphy steal and score before Furman answered with a 12-0 run of its own behind the play of Jalen Slawson. In fact, Slawson saved no fewer than five Belmont baskets with acrobatic blocked shots in transition defense. After Wood tied the score at 62, Mike Bothwell capped a 7-0 run to give Furman a 69-62 lead with 5:11 remaining.
Each team delivered offensive haymakers down the stretch, with Will Richard and Murphy answered by Bothwell and Alex Hunter. Hunter's deep, contested 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock gave Furman a 76-70 lead with 2:07 left. Luke Smith replied with a 3-pointer of his own following a key offensive rebound from Ben Sheppard.
After a defensive stop and a Will Richard putback got Belmont within one, Bothwell made two free throws with 13 seconds left to give Furman a 78-75 lead. Setting up a final possession, Murphy ran a dribble exchange play with Smith on the right wing. Smith elevated for a game-tying 3-pointer and was fouled by Bothwell with 7.8 seconds remaining. The shot nearly went in for a potential 4-point play opportunity.
Smith sank three consecutive free throws to tie the score at 78. Following a timeout, Bothwell would drive the length of the court and have a shot attempt blocked by Murphy with 1.3 seconds remaining. Furman's final shot from Bothwell along the baseline was contested and grazed the backboard as the horn sounded.
A Smith 3-pointer and one Nick Muszynski free throw gave Belmont an 82-78 lead with 4:04 left in overtime. Smith and Conley Garrison exchanged 3-pointers before a determined Muszynski offensive rebound basket pushed the margin to four, 87-83 with 2:21 left in overtime.
Alex Hunter for Furman within one on another 3-pointer before Sheppard and Murphy scored baskets to give Belmont a 91-86 lead with 46 seconds remaining in overtime.
Belmont made four consecutive free throws in the final 28 seconds to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 50 percent (35-of-70) from the field - including 10-of-26 from 3-point distance.
Smith led six Bruins in double figures with 20 points, 18 coming in the second half and overtime. Murphy, who went over 1,000 career points in the second half, had 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and seven steals. Muszynski had 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Wood and Richard each scored 13. Sheppard had 10.
Bothwell led Furman (2-1) with 23 points.
SIUE 75, KNOX 37
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE picked up its first win of the year Monday nearly leading wire to wire in a 75-37 win over Knox College at First Community Arena.
SIUE improved to 1-2. Knox also is 1-2.
After the Prairie Fire scored the first two points of the game, Ray'Sean Taylor scored back-to-back buckets for the Cougars, and they never trailed again. SIUE used a 14-2 run to end the first half to take a 39-21 advantage into the break.
The Cougars continued to add on in the second half, limiting Knox to just 16 points after halftime.
SIUE connected on 46 percent of its shots (30-65) and burned the Prairie Fire for 42 points inside the paint. The Cougars outrebounded Knox 25-18 and collected 18 second-chance points.
Shaun Doss, Jr. had a double-double by halftime and finished with a game-high 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cougars. Taylor scored 13 points and added three assists. Lamar and Shamar Wright each added eight points. Courtney Carter scored four point and pulled down five rebounds.
SIUE used six players off the bench and all contributed. Desmond Polk tied his career high with 10 points and Zane Butler doubled his previous career high, scoring eight points. Jonathan Kurtas established career highs with five points and five rebounds. Cam Williams returned to game action for the first time since a torn ACL sidelined him in January. Williams chipped in three points. Elochukwu Eze logged seven minutes and added a rebound and a block. Michael Matas also added a rebound.
Knox turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 20 SIUE points.
The Prairie Fire were led by Duane Goodman who scored 10 points. Cade Windham scored eight points and Edwardsville native Jordan Rayner added seven points. Knox used 18 players off the bench.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 62, EASTERN ILLINOIS 61
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Momentum shifted in both directions on Monday night as Central Michigan beat Eastern Illinois at the buzzer, 62-61, during EIU's home opener at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.
EIU trailed 60-58 with seconds remaining when CJ Lane hit a 3-pointer from the right corner with 2.4 seconds remaining to put EIU up 61-60. It was one of eight 3-pointers the Panthers sank on the night as they shot 32 percent from beyond the arc.
CMU threw the ball the length of the court on a Hail Mary play that was answered as the loose ball landed in the hands of guard Jermaine Jackson Jr. and his runner fell through as time expired handing CMU its first win of the season (1-2). EIU fell to 0-3 in the home debut for first year head coach Marty Simmons.
Jackson had 14 points for the Chippewas, one of four CMU players in double figures. Cameron Healy added 14 including 4-of-6 from 3-point range with several 3's falling as CMU climbed back in the contest.
EIU led 42-29 at the half and built a 20-point lead at the 6:54 mark of the first half. Sammy Friday scored all 12 of his points in the opening half going 4-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the foul line. EIU connected on 56 percent from the field in the opening half going 14-of-25 from the floor.
Rodolfo Bolis 3-pointer at the 6:54 mark pushed the Panthers lead out to 20. EIU would maintain a double figure lead until the 13:59 mark of the second half when Kevin Miller hit a jumper in the lane. Miller had 11 points.
After a Henry Abraham 3-pointer pushed the EIU lead back out to nine points with 5:31 remaining, CMU went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to knot the game at 58-58.
Abraham had 11 points. Kejuan Clements had another solid game with eight points, nine rebounds and four assists despite playing through foul trouble most of the second half.