Morehead State vs. UL-Monroe - Live Coverage

AllKYHoops.com reported live from this game

Morehead State Starting Lineups:

G Terrance Hill 6-1 So.
G Brandon Shingles 6-3 Sr.
G Sam Goodman 6-2 Jr.
F Steve Peterson 6-5 So.
F Kenneth Faried 6-8 Jr.

First Half Notes:

UL-Monroe is a very long and athletic mid-major squad. That type of team has been very difficult for OVC teams in the recent past, but Morehead State now has the athletes to matchup with that kind of team.

Morehead State opened the game with a quick 9-2 run. The Eagles opened with a very aggressive full-court pressure defense that seemed to surprise the Warhawks out of the gate. The downside was that Demonte Harper and Brandon Shingles each picked up two fouls before the first media timeout.

Morehead State picked up 7 fouls in the first 5:13 of game time. Morehead State head coach Donnie Tyndall made the decision to bring Harper and Shingles back in the game with two fouls each at the 12:50 mark of the first half.

UL-Monroe switched to a three-quarter court zone press after the first media timeout, which has caused the Eagles to pick up a couple of turnovers. The press helped the Warhawks cut the lead to 15-12 at the second media timeout.

The Warhawks cut the Eagle lead to 22-20 at the under 8:00 media timeout, but the Eagles extended it back out to four after a Faried offensive rebound and put back. UL-Monroe quickly answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one.

Ty Proffitt and Maze Stallworth drained consecutive 3-pointers to give the Eagles a 32-24 lead, forcing the Warhawks to call a timeout a the 3:48 mark of the first half. UL-Monroe answered with a long range bomb of their own to cut the lead to 32-27 at the final media timeout of the first half.

Harper and Shingles both picked up their third foul in the first half, which limited Morehead's ball-handling ability and defensive pressure. UL-Monroe was able to take a 36-35 lead late in the first half on a three-point play. Morehead State could not score on the last possession of the first half. Halftime Score: UL-Monroe 36 Morehead State 35

Second Half Notes:

Kenneth Faried opened the second half up with a driving layup to put the Eagles back up by a point. After trading baskets several times early, Faried and Turner had a brief altercation under the basket that seemed to raise the level of intensity for both teams. The Warhawks extended out to a 46-41 lead at the first media timeout.

Back-to-back dunks by Faried tied the game at 49-49 with a little over 14:00 remaining. UL-Monroe quickly regained a one-point advantage with a free throw.

The Warhawks managed to extend out to a 7-point lead at 59-52, but Morehead would not allow them to get away. A 3-pointer by Les Simmons triggered a quick 5-0 run for the Eagles to cut the lead to two at the second media timeout. With 10:30 showing on the clock, UL-Monroe led 59-57.

At the 9:13 mark, Brandon Shingles went to the line for an opportunity to tie the game, but he only made one of two. He atoned for the missed free throw with a layup to give the Eagles a 62-61 lead with 8:44 remaining.

The game was again tied at the under 8:00 timeout. With 7:55 on the clock, the score stood at 63-63.

An explosive rebound dunk by Faried gave the Eagles a 67-65 lead with just over 6:00 remaining, but the Warhawks answered with a long range jumper on the other end. After an Eagle miss, UL-Monroe hit a free throw and a layup to retake the lead at 70-67. That was the score at the final media timeout.

Kenneth Faried hit two free throws after the break to make it a one-point Morehead State deficit. A Demonte Harper jumper at 1:55 gave Morehead State a 73-72 lead. The Eagles called a timeout with possession at the 1:18 mark.

After the timeout, Morehead drained the shot clock, missed and then grabbed an offensive rebound. The Eagles called a timeout with 33.8 remaining and 20 seconds on the shot clock.

After the timeout, Faried was called for a travelling violation. UL-Monroe called timeout with 16.8 on the clock and possession, trailing the Eagles 73-72.

Tony Cooper nailed an off-balance jumper with 0.7 on the clock to give UL-Monroe a 74-73 victory. Final Score: UL-Monroe 74 Morehead State 73

Game Notes:

- This was the best basketball game I've watched in person in a long while; the intensity and execution were both there; the only thing lacking was the officiating crew
- The attendance at Morehead State is up this season following last season's run to the NCAA Tournament. The majority of the lower level is filled with MSU fans, which is a big step up from the days of 200-250 fans
- I knew this already, but it's worth repeating - Johnson Arena is a first class facility
- The transition that the MSU program has underwent is phenomenal; the program is now ran like an NCAA Division I program; AD Brian Hutchinson and head coach Donnie Tyndall get an A+ from me
- It is always a pleasure to watch Kenneth Faried compete for the Eagles; he gives 110% every game (and every practice from what I'm told)