MOREHEAD, Ky. – Despite a gutsy rally in the second half after trailing by as many as 12, Morehead State men’s basketball could not find the magic touch and fell 76-72 to Jacksonville State in both team’s Ohio Valley Conference openers Thursday at Johnson Arena.
JSU has now won six straight over the Eagles, but the average margin of victory is only 3.8.
After missing the previous two games, freshman forward Tyzhaun Claude exploded for career highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes of action in his first career start.
MSU trailed 65-53 with 7:47 remaining and held a one-point lead with less than a minute left, but a JSU three-point play seconds later and a missed jumper in the lane in the final 20 seconds spelled out MSU’s destiny.
The Eagles continue OVC play, and their four-game home stand to start league play, on Saturday when Tennessee Tech visits. Game time is 3 p.m. ET following women’s action.
KEY MOMENTS
– Ta’lon Cooper converted a three-point play with a lay-in and free throw at 13:19 of the first half to tie the game at 12.
– JSU built its largest lead (25-15) with 8:04 left in the half, but a quick 5-0 run pulled MSU back within striking distance. Freshman forward Julius Dixon canned a three-pointer and Jordan Walker hit a pair of charity tosses.
– The Eagles could only trim their late first-half deficit to as low as four when senior guard Djimon Henson drained a step-back jumper with 3:30 left.
– Claude’s emotional three point play tied the game again at 39-all with 18:36 remaining.
– Senior guard Jordan Walker drained a pair of free throws with 17:05 remaining to give the Eagles a 41-40 lead, their first advantage since the first minute of the game. Eighteen seconds later, it was a four-point cushion following Henson’s three-ball.
– With the game tied at 48, JSU ran off a 17-5 run to pull ahead 65-53 with 7:45 left in the contest.
– The game turned back in the Eagles’ favor with a 10-2 run. Trailing 65-53, MSU outscored the visitors over a three-minute span.
– Claude grabbed a rebound and put back a shot with 1:11 left to pull MSU to within 69-68.
– James Baker went high for a put-back bucket with 45 ticks left to push ahead 71-70, but Martin Roub grabbed a rebound of his own on the other end and made the bucket and free throw for a 72-70 JSU lead.
KEY STATS
– Besides Claude’s effort, Henson scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game with 16 points.
– MSU was hampered a bit by shooting 14-of-24 from the free throw line.
– For the fourth time this season, MSU had less than 10 mistakes, only turning the ball over eight times.
– MSU was hampered a bit by shooting 14-of-24 from the free throw line.
– For the fourth time this season, MSU had less than 10 mistakes, only turning the ball over eight times.
– Roub led JSU with 21 points, including six three-pointers.
QUOTING COACH SPRADLIN
“We made the adjustments we needed to do after being down 12, and most specifically we put in (sophomore guard) Malik Riddle and forced them to go small too. We stayed aggressive and drove the ball. Our switching was being aggressive too. It was just too little, too late. You just really can’t overcome the free throw shooting and the three-point shooting (6-for-23). If one is better than the other, than maybe it’s a different outcome.”
“Everybody got a taste of just how good Tyzhaun is going to be tonight. He did a good job defensively. He got to the offense glass, ran the floor. He really played a great game.”
