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#1 Murray State 71 #3 Morehead State 67
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MUR,
MOR
#1 MURRAY STATE 71, #3 MOREHEAD STATE 67
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Tevin Brown scored 23 points to lead No. 22 Murray State over Morehead State 71-67 on Saturday night, giving the Racers their 20th consecutive victory and the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship.
Tournament MVP Justice Hill added 21 points for the Racers (30-2, 18-0), who shot just 38% from the field but won the rebounding battle 47-31 and had an edge on second-chance points (16-7).
All of it was needed against the defending OVC tournament champion Eagles (23-11, 13-5), who got an MVP-like performance from forward Johni Broome. He shook off an injury to finish with 32 points and eight rebounds on 13-for-20 shooting.
Neither team held more than a two-possession lead for the entire second half. Murray State was up 66-61 with less than 90 seconds to go, before back-to-back 3-pointers from Tray Hollowell kept it within 68-67.
Hollowell finished with 12 points on four 3-pointers, while Ta'lon Cooper added 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Racers had a similar start Saturday night as they did in the quarterfinals the day before against Southeast Missouri State, quickly ripping out to a 12-2 lead. Brown buried back-to-back 3-pointers to start the game.
But the Eagles responded with their own 18-2 run, with four 3s in that stretch.
Murray State and Morehead State were tied at 34 at the half. The Eagles shot 56% in the frame and held the Racers to 33.3%, but the Racers won the rebounding battle 27-11.
This is Murray State's third conference tournament title under seventh-year coach Matt McMahon.
2022 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Johni Broome, Morehead State
Ta'Lon Cooper, Morehead State
KJ Williams, Murray State
Tevin Brown, Murray State
Justice Hill, Murray State (MVP)