12-31-2017, 04:19 AM
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. â The Morehead State men's basketball team led by as many as 11 Saturday at Jacksonville State, but the host Gamecocks used a second-half rally to get past the Eagles 76-69 at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
MSU is now 4-9 on the year and 0-2 in the OVC. JSU outscored MSU 45-29 in the final half.
"I thought we competed really well again today, but it was like we weren't ready yet to win a game like this," said head coach Preston Spradlin. "We will be though. We played a terrific first half, and that is encoraging."
Sophomore forward Londell King posted his fourth career double-double with 15 points and a career-best 14 rebounds.
"Londell had a special game," Spradlin said. "He fought hard and played a really solid team role today."
Sophomore guard Djimon Henson registered his ninth double-figure effort with 15 points, while sophomore guard Jordan Walker added 14 points.
The Eagles nailed 48 percent (15-of-31) from the floor in the first half and led by as much as 11 with 6:26 remaining.
The hosts led 22-20 at the 10:09 mark, but a trey by Walker at 9:19 kick-started an 11-0 run wherein the Eagles pulled ahead for good in the half. MSU held a 40-31 halftime advantage.
MSU pulled ahead 43-33 early in the final 20 minutes, but a four-minute scoring drought allowed the Gamecocks to rally with a 10-0 run. Freshman De'von Cooper halted the flurry with a three-pointer at 14:40. Jacksonville State finally led 55-54, and it never relinquished the cushion.
Morehead State returns home for OVC action on Thursday when Eastern Illinois visits. Game time is 6 p.m. ET.
http://www.msueagles.com/news/2017/12/30...urday.aspx
MSU is now 4-9 on the year and 0-2 in the OVC. JSU outscored MSU 45-29 in the final half.
"I thought we competed really well again today, but it was like we weren't ready yet to win a game like this," said head coach Preston Spradlin. "We will be though. We played a terrific first half, and that is encoraging."
Sophomore forward Londell King posted his fourth career double-double with 15 points and a career-best 14 rebounds.
"Londell had a special game," Spradlin said. "He fought hard and played a really solid team role today."
Sophomore guard Djimon Henson registered his ninth double-figure effort with 15 points, while sophomore guard Jordan Walker added 14 points.
The Eagles nailed 48 percent (15-of-31) from the floor in the first half and led by as much as 11 with 6:26 remaining.
The hosts led 22-20 at the 10:09 mark, but a trey by Walker at 9:19 kick-started an 11-0 run wherein the Eagles pulled ahead for good in the half. MSU held a 40-31 halftime advantage.
MSU pulled ahead 43-33 early in the final 20 minutes, but a four-minute scoring drought allowed the Gamecocks to rally with a 10-0 run. Freshman De'von Cooper halted the flurry with a three-pointer at 14:40. Jacksonville State finally led 55-54, and it never relinquished the cushion.
Morehead State returns home for OVC action on Thursday when Eastern Illinois visits. Game time is 6 p.m. ET.
http://www.msueagles.com/news/2017/12/30...urday.aspx