An 18-2 scoring run midway through the first half broke open a close game and allowed the host Murray State Racers to pull away for an 86-56 win over the Morehead State Eagles Saturday night at Murray's Regional Special Events Center.
The Eagles fell to 2-4 and 1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while the Racers upped their record to 7-1 and 2-0 in the league.
The Racers never looked back after breaking the game open the first half. Murray State finished the game shooting 57 percent, including hitting 11-of-24 from three-point range. The Eagles tried to zone the host Racers on defense, but Murray State, which ranks fourth in the nation field goal percentage, wasn't fazed.
Kenneth Faried posted his fifth double-double of the season for the Eagles with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Demonte Harper also reached double figures with a team high 15 points. The Eagles committed 18 turnovers and had just seven assists.
Murray State was led by Danero Thomas with 18 points. BJ Jenkins scored 17, and Ivan Aska totaled 10.
The game remained tight throughout much of the first half. The Eagles led 5-3 on two Les Simmons free throws. An Aska layup for the Racers set the score at 7-5 Murray State with 14:37 left, and Morehead State was not able to re-gain the lead.
With the game tied at 21 at the 6:52 mark, the Racers went on the 18-2 run to push their lead to its largest of the opening half, 39-23, at the 2:15 mark. The Eagles turned the ball over four times during that span and went 1-for-6 from the field. Meanwhile, Murray State didn't miss a shot in that four-minute span. The Racers built a 43-28 halftime margin in their favor.
The Racers connected on 60 percent (15-of-25) in the opening half. The Eagles shot 39 percent but turned the ball over nine times. Murray took advantage, scoring 13 points off Eagle miscues. The Eagles out-rebounded the Racers 16-8 in the opening 20 minutes, but MSU was only able to convert five-second chance points.
Murray State built its lead to as much as 32 in the second half. The Eagles finished the contest shooting 41 percent overall.
Morehead State has next week idle for final exams and then returns to action at home at Dec. 15 against St. Catharine's College at Noon. The early tip time is to accommodate the attendance of the local area elementary schools.
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