Four players scored in double figures as Morehead State downed Ohio, 77-72, in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational at the Convocation Center on Wednesday night.
With the win, the Eagles improve their record to 22-12 and advance to the championship game of the CBI. They will host either Vermont or Nevada at Johnson Arena on Monday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Ohio ends their season with a record of 23-12.
"This team doesn't want to stop playing. We're fighting and scrapping because we want to win so badly. We want to get it right and we're getting it right," said head coach Sean Woods. "This team is just so relentless. We're doing everything from a hustle and toughness standpoint that you can possibly do."
Senior forward Lyonell Gaines carried the load for the Eagles in the first half, accumulating 12 points and eight rebounds. The two squads played to three lead changes and two ties, as the Eagles went into the locker room with a 29-24 advantage.
The Bobcats struck early in the second half with a 5-0 run, bringing the game to a 29-29 tie, and the two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the second half.
With 2:10 left to go in the game, the two teams were knotted at 65-65. Senior Corban Collins answered on the other end with his third three-pointer of the second half to give the Eagles a three-point lead. Senior Brent Arrington and junior Xavier Moon then both hit two free throws following Ohio misses to build the Morehead State lead to 72-65 with 54 seconds to go.
Ohio's Kenny Kaminski answered with his fifth three-pointer of the game to trim the lead to four, but the Eagles hit five of six free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Moon scored 15 of his team-high 18 points in the second half. He knocked down 2-of-5 from beyond the arc and shot 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Gaines finished the game with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Collins chipped in 14 points and knocked down four huge three-pointers in the second half. Arrington also finished in double figures with 11 points after spending most of the first half in foul trouble.
The Eagles outrebounded the bigger Bobcats, 37-35, and won the battle of the paint, 28-24. MSU recorded 11 steals and forced 18 Ohio turnovers. Junior Ronnye Beamon led the way with a career-high five steals.
Morehead State shot just 38 percent from the floor, but held Ohio to 44 percent shooting. The Eagles shot 20-of-22 from the free throw line.
Jaaron Simmons led Ohio with 21 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Treg Setty added 20 points and five rebounds. Kaminsky finished with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range.
Tickets for Monday night's CBI championship game are now on sale. Visit online at: http://MSUEagles.com/CBITix or call 1-606-783-2088 for more information.
