More Spectacular Play from Morant

OVC on Thursday Night

(Palm Springs, CA) – With each passing Murray State’s Ja Morant does another amazing thing. Thursday was no different as there was more spectacular play from Morant. The sophomore guard was on Sports Center again and scored 26 points.

But EIGHTEEN ASSISTS? His historical season continues.

Three Undefeated Teams

Murray State’s 98-77 over UT Martin marked their third straight conference win, fourth straight victory and fourth straight game with at least 90 points. Morant scored those 26 points and landed on Sports Center.

 

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SMILE FOR THE POSTER! 🙃 #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/uWITampLHK

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 11, 2019

 

His 18 assists were a MSU record. Tevin Brown turned in another great freshman performance leading the Racers (12-2, 3-0) with 31 points by nailing NINE three-pointers (equaling an MSU record). Shaq Buchanan added 21 points. Murray’s two losses have come on the road at Alabama and Auburn.

Quintin Dove led the Skyhawks (5-9, 0-3) with 27 points.

Jacksonville State knocked Eastern Illinois from the ranks of the undefeated. The Gamecocks (11-5, 3-0) won a narrow home victory over the scrappy Panthers (9-7, 2-1) 69-62.

Jason Burnell led JSU, winners of four straight games with 18 points. EIU led 49-44 midway through the second half of their first road conference game, but a 13-0 run by the Gamecocks put them in front and Ray Harper’s team held on for the win.

Austin Peay joined Murray State as the only road-winners on Thursday. The Governors (11-5, 3-0) opened up a 17 point, first-half lead at Southeast Missouri on the way to a 78-60 victory. Four APSU players reached double figures in scoring with Terry Taylor leading the way with 17 points.

Only Skyler Hogan (16 points) turned the trick for SEMO (6-10, 1-2).

Three ‘Firsts’

First year coaches squared off looking for their initial OVC victories when Eastern Kentucky visited Tennessee State. The Tigers held serve and gave their head coach, Brian ‘Penny’ Collins his first league win.

TSU edged EKU 82-81 as all-OVC forward Nick Mayo missed a game-winning attempt with under two seconds remaining. The Tigers (4-11, 1-2) snapped a six-game losing streak as five players scored more than ten points.

Mayo (22) and Jomaru Brown (24) both topped 20 points. A.W. Hamilton and the Colonels (7-9, 0-3) are still looking for their first taste of OVC success.

Caleb Hollander broke a six game scoring slump by recording a career high 22 points to spark Belmont (11-3, 2-1) to a 77-60 home win over Morehead State. Hollander and fellow freshman Nick Muszynski (20 points, 9 rebounds and career high 6 assists) led the way as all-OVC forward Dylan Windler battled foul trouble.

Morehead State (4-12, 0-3) couldn’t keep up with the Bruins on the glass, losing the rebounding battle 26 to 38.

Playing without point guard Tyresse Williford, Southern Illinois Edwardsville still forced overtime at Tennessee Tech, but couldn’t keep up with the Golden Eagles in the extra session. TTU (6-10, 2-1) prevailed 78-69. Hunter Vick (18 points) led four Golden Eagles in double digit scoring.

SIUE (5-10, 1-2) is 0-and-3 in overtime games. Back-to-back triples by David McFarland (17 points) and Daniel Kinchen (14 points) forced the OT. Williford missed the game due to sickness.

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