Lightning Strikes Twice for Hooper; Morehead State Loses

UL-Monroe 74
Morehead State 73

Final from Morehead, Kentucky

Game Recap from Morehead State:

If Morehead State ever plays Louisiana Monroe again, MSU coach Donnie Tyndall will be glad Tony Hooper won’t be on the court.

ULM defeated the Eagles 74-73 on a jumper by Hooper with .8 seconds remaining. It was the second year Hooper, a fifth-year senior, scored in the closing seconds to lift the Warhawks past MSU Saturday night at Johnson Arena.

ULM led for most of the second half and its advantage was as high as seven following a 3-pointer by Hooper, but Morehead fought back and took the lead on a pair of free throws from senior Brandon Shingles. The teams traded points down the stretch until junior Demonte Harper scored four straight on a lay-up and jumper, giving the Eagles a one-point edge with 1:54 to play. Each team missed a 3-pointer and MSU held the one-point lead until Hooper’s game-winner.

“The bottom line is that Hooper has beaten us two years in a row at the buzzer,” Tyndall said. “We have a long way to go defensively on the floor.”

Morehead State junior Kenneth Faried had his second double-double of the season, scoring 24 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Faried was 9-of-13 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 at the line. Harper finished with 11 points and four assists.
ULM had four players in double-digits, led by Dynile Forbes. Hooper and Lawrence Gilbert each had 16 and Jarvis Hill finished with 12. Hill had three assists and Gilbert and Forbes each had a team-high four rebounds.

Both teams were in foul trouble early, forcing personnel adjustments.

“One thing about our team, we have some depth,” Tyndall said. “We just didn’t get it done on the defensive end.”

Morehead State will not play for a week due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, but will return to action Sunday, Nov. 29 to host Kent State at Johnson Arena. The game, a return for last year’s ESPN Bracketbuster, will tip at 7 p.m.

Postgame Quotes:

Donnie Tyndall, MSU Head Coach

On Hooper's game-winning shot:

"The bottom line is, Hooper beats us both years at the buzzer. There was nothing tricky, he just made a huge play."

On individual play of the Eagles:

"I thought Hill and Harper some good things. Proffitt was solid tonight."

On the game's outcome:

"We just didn't get it done of the defensive end tonight."

“We have a long way to go defensively on the floor.”

Orlando Early, UL-Monroe Head Coach:

On the game:

"I thought it was a great battle tonight."

On Kenneth Faried:

"The conference player of the year showed it tonight."

On getting a win like this early in the season:

"It's huge. We've been taking steps each year but this is just huge for us for a confidence boost."

On Tony Hooper:

"Tony's been tremendous for us. He's been great for four years now."