March 16, 2011 —
DENVER – Senior guard Demonte Harper canned a three-point goal with 4.2 seconds to play here Thursday afternoon to give Morehead State a 62-61 upset of in-state opponent Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Southwest Regional basketball tournament.
The Eagles, now 25-9, advanced to the second round to play Richmond on Saturday at the Pepsi Center. It was MSU’s first win over the Cards since the 1956-57 season.
The game time, determined by the NCAA’s TV contract, will be announced later.
MSU Head Coach Donnie Tyndall said his players kept their cool in the closing minutes, especially Harper.
“He showed again why he is the best guard in the Ohio Valley Conference,” Tyndall said. “We put the ball in his hands and he came through as he has done so many times.”
Harper, who had only eight points in the game, said Tyndall told him during a timeout with 24 seconds left that he should hold the ball until about 6 seconds were left and then put up a three for the win.
“As we broke the huddle, I told coach I would make it,” Harper recalled. “I felt all along that I would…and I did.”
The Cardinals of Coach Rick Pitino got the ball down court and into the hands of Mike Marra but his shot was blocked by MSU’s Kenneth Faried as the final horn sounded.
Junior guard Terrance Hill led the Eagles with a career high 23 points. Guard Ty Profitt added 13 and Faried came up with 12 points and 17 rebounds, the 85th double-double of his college career.
Chris Smith led U of L with 17 points and Kyle Kuric and Preston Knowles each added nine. Peyton Siva was limited to three points.
