SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 94, Alice Lloyd 63
@Eastern Illinois 99, Blackburn 55
MOREHEAD STATE 94, ALICE LLOYD 63
MOREHEAD, Ky. - A slow start didn't faze the Morehead State Men's Basketball team Saturday afternoon in its matchup with in-state NAIA foe Alice Lloyd College. The host Eagles shot 76 percent in the final 20 minutes and scored as many points in the half as the visiting Eagles did for the entire game as MSU won 94-63 at Johnson Arena.
MSU (7-6) won its fourth straight game, remained perfect at home at 6-0 and scored 70+ for the seventh consecutive game. Morehead State nailed 25-of-33 shots in the final half, hit 56 percent overall and out-rebounded ALC 45-21. The hosts outscored ALC 63-36 in the second period. MSU has won all eight games in the series with Alice Lloyd and is now 65-0 against non-Division I teams since 1992.
The home team led just 31-27 at the half and turned the ball over 11 times. But, MSU committed just two second-half turnovers and at one point was 16-of-18 from the floor (89 percent).
Overall, five players reach double figures, including four of the starters. Steven Clay led the way with 15 points, while Kenny White, Jr., scored 14. Tyler Brelsford and Jerone Morton each netted 13 points, and George Marshall came off the bench to join them with 13 points. Morton led the rebound charge with seven, while Khouri Carvety and Trent Scott grabbed six each off the bench.
MSU had 22 assists on 37 buckets with Scott's five pacing the unit. Morton and Brelsford had four dish-offs each that led to successful baskets. The Eagles also drained 11 three-pointers with four different players hitting multiple triples each.
MSU was only able to distance itself by as much as eight (31-23) in the first half but once the second half got rolling, the Eagles started to roll. A free throw by Carvey ended a 24-7 outburst to start the half. MSU led 55-34 at the 13:22 mark. The home team went on to push the advantage to as much as 35 and led by 30+ for the final four minutes.
Jared Strickland had 12 points to lead his team.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 99, BLACKBURN 55
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Five Eastern Illinois players scored in double figures as the Panthers rolled to a 99-55 win over Blackburn College in their final non-conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon at Groniger Arena.
Three of the Panthers five starters finished in double figures with Zion Fruster leading the way with 15 points. Kooper Jacobi had 13 and Malik Olafioye added 11. Obadiah Curtis and Lazar Grbovic joined the double figure party off the bench with Curtis tying for team-high honors with 15. Grbovic had 12.
EIU turned up the pressure in the first half with 27 points scored off of 17 Blackburn first half turnovers. EIU ended the game with 45 points off of 29 total Beavers turnovers. Curtis had a team-high five steals as the Panthers finished with 20 in the game which was one off the school record of 21 steals set during the 1987 season against Harris-Stowe.
EIU shot 73.5 percent in the opening half to build a 57-21 halftime lead. The Panthers cooled off slightly in the second half shooting 58.1 percent in the half and 66.2 percent for the game.
The Panthers led 10-7 after just five and a half minutes of play but went on a 13-3 run and never looked back. Odis Grissom hit a 3-pointer for Blackburn as their points during the run as he scored a game-high 19 points hitting 5-of-8 from 3-point range.
EIU finished with 70 points in the paint in the game and a 35-26 rebound advantage.
EIU is now 4-8 on the season. Blackburn is 0-9.