Graduate transfer Riley Minix totaled a career high 25 points, and senior guard Drew Thelwell equaled him with 25 markers as well - one short of his career standard - as the Morehead State men's basketball team knocked off the Chattanooga Mocs 87-80 at home Sunday for the program's 10th straight win in Johnson Arena.
MSU improved to 6-3 this season in coming away victorious in just the second-ever meeting between the OVC's Eagles and the Southern Conference's Mocs.
Minix notched his third Eagle double-double with the 25 points and game-high 11 rebounds. Thelwell added five assists and scored 16 of his total in the first half. Kalil Thomas helped out with 16 points and four assists, and Jordan Lathon reached double figures for the third straight game with 10.
Morehead State did an excellent job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 20 assists while turning the ball over just eight times.
Morehead State also did a great job disrupting Chattanooga shots in the contest, coming away with six blocks. Minix's two rejections led the way individually for the Eagles. The Eagles shot a season-high 57 percent overall, the fourth straight game above .500 from the floor.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 14-11 advantage, Morehead State went on an 8-0 run with 10:08 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Thelwell, to increase its lead to 22-11. The Eagles then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 40-36 advantage. Morehead State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 40 points.
Following intermission, Morehead State kept widening that lead, expanding it to 66-59 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Jordan Lathon's layup, to grow the lead to 72-59 with 6:11 to go in the contest. The Mocs narrowed the margin somewhat, including cutting it to 85-80 with less than 20 seconds left. Morehead State took care of business in the paint, recording 26 of its 47 points in the lane in the final half.
Game Notes
» The Eagles shot well from three point range, knocking down 10 of 23 long range attempts.
» Morehead State never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Morehead State tallied 20 total assists in the game.
» Riley Minix, Drew Thelwell, and Kalil Thomas combined to account for 76 percent of the Eagles points.
» Morehead State had a 32-27 edge on the boards in the win. MSU has now out-rebounded six consecutive opponents.
» The Eagles cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» MSU is now 42-5 at Johnson Arena in the past three seasons.Up Next
MSU is idle this week before returning to action on Dec. 10 at North Alabama.