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No. 22 Murray State beats Morehead State to win OVC tourney

AP
Mar 06, 2022

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) Tevin Brown scored 23 points to lead No. 22 Murray State over Morehead State 71-67 on Saturday night, giving the Racers their 20th consecutive victory, the Ohio Valley Conference tournament title and an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.

''We got our culture back,'' Brown said with a championship trophy in front of him and a basketball net around his neck.

Tournament MVP Justice Hill added 21 points for the Racers (30-2), who shot just 38% from the field but won the rebounding battle 47-31 and had an edge on second-chance points (16-7). His late steal and drive and assist to 2022 OVC Player of the Year KJ Williams put Murray State up 65-61 late.

''It was just a lot of hard work,'' Hill said. ''I don't really mind not being looked at. I really just want to win. Knowing I've got two guys on the side of me (Williams and Brown) who can go for 30-plus points each night really actually takes a lot of pressure off of me going into games knowing that these two will be the main focus of the other team.

''It really allows me to go out there and have performances like I had tonight.''

All of their efforts were needed against the defending OVC tournament champion Eagles (23-11), who got an MVP-like performance from forward Johni Broome. He shook off an injury to finish with 32 points and eight rebounds on 13-for-20 shooting.

''My teammates put trust in me by allowing me to make plays for them, to kind of lead the way,'' Broome said. ''But that's a good Racers team. And it was a tough loss.''

Ta'lon Cooper had 12 points, five assists and five rebounds for Morehead State, and Tray Hollowell scored all 12 points on 3s.

After two huge runs - one from each team in the first 10 minutes - neither the Racers nor the Eagles grabbed more than a six-point advantage. Murray State was up 66-61 with less than 90 seconds to go, before back-to-back 3-pointers from Tray Hollowell kept it within 68-67.

Murray State coach Matt McMahon, in his seventh season, called it ''a high-level game.''

''You'd be hard-pressed to find a better game than that in the next seven, eight days,'' he said. ''Lot of respect for Morehead State. Coach (Preston) Spradlin's done a terrific job building his program. But again, these guys have done it all year. They find different ways to win.''

This is Murray State's third conference tournament title under McMahon. The Racers will move to the Missouri Valley Conference later this year.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

McMahon called the game a ''blur,'' and Spradlin couldn't directly point to any statistics that stood out in the loss, noting he was ''supremely focused on his guys.''

The Racers shot better from the arc (10-for-22, 45%) than they did from the field (14-for-41, 34%).

TURNING POINTS

Morehead State answered Murray State's 12-2 opening run with its own 18-2 stretch. But back-to-back 3-pointers from Racers reserve guard DaQuan Smith tied it at 20.

After Broome cut the Eagle deficit to 61-60, Murray State would score the next five points. The Racers went 5-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final minute.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Murray State: The Racers fell three spots in the AP Top 25 Poll this past week despite closing the regular season with two more wins. Extending their winning streak while capturing a crown should improve their spot.

BIG PICTURE

Murray State: Most bracketologists have the Racers slated in the 8/9 slot for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. A 20-win streak and an unblemished finish in the OVC might move them into a better seed.

Morehead State: The Eagles looked every bit the part of the defending champs and nearly pulled off the upset, shooting 48% for the game while only turning the ball over nine times.

UP NEXT

Murray State: The 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Morehead State: The Eagles await possible postseason invitations.

---

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
MORE
Eagles
34
MURR
Racers
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Johni Broome vs. KJ Williams (DJ Burns gains possession)
19:48	+3	Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (DJ Burns assists)	0-3
19:15	+2	Jake Wolfe makes two point layup (Johni Broome assists)	2-3
19:15		DJ Burns shooting foul (Jake Wolfe draws the foul)
19:15		Jake Wolfe misses regular free throw 1 of 1
19:15		DJ Burns defensive rebound
19:02	+3	Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Carter Collins assists)	2-6
18:27		Eagles turnover (shot clock violation)
18:16		Skyelar Potter shooting foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
18:16	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 3	2-7
18:16	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 3	2-8
18:16	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 3 of 3	2-9
18:01		KJ Williams personal foul (Jaylon Hall draws the foul)
17:56		Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (lost ball) (DJ Burns steals)
17:49		KJ Williams misses two point layup
17:47		DJ Burns offensive rebound
17:47		Ta'Lon Cooper blocks DJ Burns's two point layup
17:45		Racers offensive rebound
17:34		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
17:32		DJ Burns offensive rebound
17:27		Justice Hill turnover (bad pass) (Jaylon Hall steals)
17:17		Skyelar Potter misses three point jump shot
17:15		Carter Collins defensive rebound
16:48	+3	KJ Williams makes three point step back jump shot (Justice Hill assists)	2-12
16:42		Eagles 30 second timeout
16:14	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point pullup jump shot	4-12
15:52		Nicholas McMullen turnover (lost ball) (Tray Hollowell steals)
15:44	+2	Jaylon Hall makes two point driving layup	6-12
15:21		Justice Hill misses two point jump shot
15:19		Johni Broome defensive rebound
15:10	+3	Jaylon Hall makes three point jump shot (Tray Hollowell assists)	9-12
14:41		Justice Hill misses two point layup
14:39		Racers offensive rebound
14:39		TV timeout
14:37		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
14:35		KJ Williams offensive rebound
14:29		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
14:27		Jaylen Sebree defensive rebound
14:09	+2	Johni Broome makes two point driving layup	11-12
14:09		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
14:09		Johni Broome misses regular free throw 1 of 1
14:09		KJ Williams defensive rebound
13:48		Johni Broome blocks Jordan Skipper-Brown's two point hook shot
13:46		Johni Broome defensive rebound
13:39		Johni Broome misses three point jump shot
13:37		KJ Williams defensive rebound
13:20		Skyelar Potter personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
13:05		Tevin Brown misses two point jump shot
13:03		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
12:38	+3	Tray Hollowell makes three point step back jump shot	14-12
12:16		KJ Williams turnover (bad pass)
11:56	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point pullup jump shot	17-12
11:30		LJ Bryan blocks Trae Hannibal's two point layup
11:28		LJ Bryan defensive rebound
11:16		Tray Hollowell misses three point jump shot
11:14		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
10:53		Justice Hill misses two point jump shot
10:51		Tevin Brown offensive rebound
10:47	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point driving layup	17-14
10:25	+3	Jaylon Hall makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	20-14
9:54		Justice Hill turnover (bad pass) (Tray Hollowell steals)
9:38		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
9:36		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
9:28		KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
9:26		KJ Williams offensive rebound
9:24		KJ Williams misses two point jump shot
9:22		DJ Burns offensive rebound
9:21		Jake Wolfe personal foul (DJ Burns draws the foul)
9:21		TV timeout
9:18	+3	DaQuan Smith makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)	20-17
8:45		Johni Broome misses two point jump shot
8:43		DJ Burns defensive rebound
8:38		Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
8:36		Jaylen Sebree defensive rebound
8:20		Jaylon Hall turnover (bad pass) (Tevin Brown steals)
8:14	+3	DaQuan Smith makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)	20-20
7:47		Johni Broome misses two point jump shot
7:45		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
7:37	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point driving layup	20-22
7:09		Tray Hollowell misses three point jump shot
7:07		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
7:02		Tevin Brown turnover (lost ball) (Drew Thelwell steals)
6:41	+2	Johni Broome makes two point turnaround jump shot	22-22
6:19	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point pullup jump shot	22-24
6:00		Jaylen Sebree misses two point jump shot
5:58		Johni Broome offensive rebound
5:58	+2	Johni Broome makes two point putback layup	24-24
5:58		DJ Burns shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
5:58		TV timeout
5:58		Johni Broome misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:58		Jordan Skipper-Brown defensive rebound
5:32		Tevin Brown misses two point layup
5:30		Nicholas McMullen offensive rebound
5:25		Johni Broome blocks Nicholas McMullen's two point layup
5:23		Jordan Skipper-Brown offensive rebound
5:18		Tray Hollowell blocks Nicholas McMullen's two point layup
5:18		Nicholas McMullen offensive rebound
5:18	+3	Carter Collins makes three point jump shot	24-27
4:58		Nicholas McMullen blocks Jaylon Hall's two point jump shot
4:56		Carter Collins defensive rebound
4:52		Carter Collins misses two point layup
4:50		Nicholas McMullen offensive rebound
4:48		Nicholas McMullen misses two point layup
4:46		Jake Wolfe defensive rebound
4:43		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (Jake Wolfe draws the foul)
4:43		Jake Wolfe misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:25		Justice Hill misses two point jump shot
4:43	+1	Jake Wolfe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-27
4:25		Justice Hill misses two point jump shot
4:23		Nicholas McMullen offensive rebound
4:23		Skyelar Potter personal foul (Nicholas McMullen draws the foul)
4:11		Trae Hannibal misses two point jump shot
4:09		Tray Hollowell defensive rebound
3:45	+2	Johni Broome makes two point fadeaway jump shot	27-27
3:27		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
3:25		Johni Broome defensive rebound
3:11	+2	Johni Broome makes two point dunk (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	29-27
2:47		Trae Hannibal turnover (bad pass)
2:47		TV timeout
2:25	+2	Johni Broome makes two point turnaround jump shot	31-27
2:01	+2	Justice Hill makes two point floating jump shot	31-29
1:43		Jaylon Hall misses three point jump shot
1:41		KJ Williams defensive rebound
1:32		Ta'Lon Cooper blocks Justice Hill's two point layup
1:30		Racers offensive rebound
1:28	+3	Justice Hill makes three point step back jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)	31-32
1:04		DaQuan Smith personal foul (Jaylon Hall draws the foul)
0:51	+2	Johni Broome makes two point layup (Jake Wolfe assists)	33-32
0:51		KJ Williams shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
0:51	+1	Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 1	34-32
0:36	+2	Justice Hill makes two point turnaround jump shot	34-34
0:11		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
0:13		Johni Broome misses two point jump shot
0:11		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
0:02		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
0:00		Eagles defensive rebound

2nd Half
MORE
Eagles
33
MURR
Racers
37

Time		Play	Score
19:48	+2	Johni Broome makes two point layup	36-34
19:32		Jaylon Hall personal foul
19:23		DJ Burns misses two point layup
19:21		Johni Broome defensive rebound
19:03		Johni Broome misses two point layup
19:01		DJ Burns defensive rebound
18:55		Justice Hill misses two point jump shot
18:53		Jaylon Hall defensive rebound
18:46		Skyelar Potter misses three point jump shot
18:44		Justice Hill defensive rebound
18:40	+2	Justice Hill makes two point layup	36-36
18:40		Johni Broome shooting foul (Justice Hill draws the foul)
18:40	+1	Justice Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 1	36-37
18:24	+2	Johni Broome makes two point layup (Skyelar Potter assists)	38-37
18:04		Jake Wolfe blocks Tevin Brown's three point jump shot
18:02		Carter Collins offensive rebound
17:58	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (Carter Collins assists)	38-40
17:38		Jaylon Hall misses two point layup
17:36		DJ Burns defensive rebound
17:31		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
17:29		Skyelar Potter defensive rebound
17:06		LJ Bryan misses two point hook shot
17:04		KJ Williams defensive rebound
16:44		LJ Bryan shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
16:44	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-41
16:44		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:44		Johni Broome defensive rebound
16:23	+3	Tray Hollowell makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	41-41
15:58		DJ Burns turnover (lost ball) (Johni Broome steals)
15:55		DJ Burns personal foul
15:55		TV timeout
15:40		Jordan Skipper-Brown blocks Jake Wolfe's two point layup
15:38		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
15:29		Justice Hill misses two point layup
15:27		Jordan Skipper-Brown offensive rebound
15:21		Jordan Skipper-Brown misses two point layup
15:19		Skyelar Potter defensive rebound
15:08		Jake Wolfe misses two point layup
15:06		KJ Williams defensive rebound
14:55		KJ Williams turnover (traveling)
14:32		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
14:32	+1	Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-41
14:32	+1	Johni Broome makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-41
14:08		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
14:06		Jaylen Sebree defensive rebound
13:58		Jaylen Sebree misses three point jump shot
13:56		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
13:56		Ta'Lon Cooper personal foul
13:35		Johni Broome personal foul
13:33	+3	Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists)	43-44
13:11		Tray Hollowell offensive foul
13:11		Tray Hollowell turnover
12:53		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
12:51		DJ Burns offensive rebound
12:47	+2	DJ Burns makes two point putback layup	43-46
12:31	+2	Johni Broome makes two point layup	45-46
12:31		Trae Hannibal shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
12:31	+1	Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 1	46-46
12:17	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point layup	46-48
11:48		Johni Broome misses two point jump shot
11:46		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
11:47		Jake Wolfe personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
11:47		TV timeout
11:47	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-49
11:47	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-50
11:36	+2	Johni Broome makes two point layup (Jaylon Hall assists)	48-50
11:36		DJ Burns shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
11:36		Johni Broome misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:36		KJ Williams defensive rebound
11:24		Justice Hill turnover (lost ball) (Johni Broome steals)
11:05		Jaylon Hall misses three point jump shot
11:03		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
11:02		Ta'Lon Cooper blocks Trae Hannibal's two point layup
11:00		Eagles defensive rebound
10:44	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point layup	50-50
10:21	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists)	50-53
9:56		DaQuan Smith personal foul
9:55		Johni Broome offensive foul
9:55		Johni Broome turnover
9:44		Ta'Lon Cooper blocks Tevin Brown's three point jump shot
9:42		KJ Williams offensive rebound
9:38		KJ Williams misses two point layup
9:36		Jaylon Hall defensive rebound
9:13		Justice Hill blocks Jake Wolfe's two point jump shot
9:11		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
9:09		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point layup
9:07		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
9:07	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point layup	52-53
8:42	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point layup	52-55
8:55		TV timeout
8:42	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point layup	52-55
8:21		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point layup
8:19		Justice Hill defensive rebound
8:13	+2	Justice Hill makes two point layup	52-57
7:46		Tevin Brown shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
8:11		TV timeout
7:46		Tevin Brown shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
7:46	+1	Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-57
7:46		Johni Broome misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:46		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
7:28		Trae Hannibal turnover (bad pass)
7:28		Jaylen Sebree turnover (traveling)
7:24	+2	Justice Hill makes two point jump shot	53-59
6:55		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point jump shot
6:53		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
6:49	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point layup	55-59
6:28		Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
6:26		Johni Broome defensive rebound
6:10	+2	Johni Broome makes two point jump shot (Tray Hollowell assists)	57-59
5:42		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
5:40		Tray Hollowell defensive rebound
5:22		KJ Williams personal foul (Johni Broome draws the foul)
5:22	+1	Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-59
5:22		Johni Broome misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:22		Skyelar Potter offensive rebound
5:07		Jordan Skipper-Brown blocks Johni Broome's two point jump shot
5:05		DJ Burns defensive rebound
4:48		Justice Hill misses two point layup
4:46		Skyelar Potter defensive rebound
4:40		Jake Wolfe turnover (traveling)
4:17	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point layup	58-61
4:17		Jaylon Hall shooting foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
4:17		Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:17		Skyelar Potter defensive rebound
4:01	+2	Johni Broome makes two point layup (Skyelar Potter assists)	60-61
3:35	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point layup	60-63
3:19		Jake Wolfe turnover (bad pass) (Justice Hill steals)
3:16		TV timeout
3:13		Justice Hill offensive foul
3:13		Justice Hill turnover
2:48		Skyelar Potter misses two point jump shot
2:46		Jordan Skipper-Brown defensive rebound
2:23		Tevin Brown misses two point layup
2:21		Johni Broome defensive rebound
2:11		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point layup
2:09		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
2:09		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
2:09		Ta'Lon Cooper misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:09		Eagles 30 second timeout
2:09	+1	Ta'Lon Cooper makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-63
1:22		Jaylon Hall turnover (bad pass) (KJ Williams steals)
1:40	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup (Justice Hill assists)	61-65
1:22		Jaylon Hall turnover (bad pass) (KJ Williams steals)
1:13		Ta'Lon Cooper personal foul (Justice Hill draws the foul)
1:13		Justice Hill misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:53	+3	Tray Hollowell makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	64-66
1:13	+1	Justice Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-66
0:53	+3	Tray Hollowell makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	64-66
0:26		Tray Hollowell personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
0:26	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-67
0:26		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:26		Jaylon Hall defensive rebound
0:15		Tevin Brown blocks Tray Hollowell's three point jump shot
0:14		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
0:14		Ta'Lon Cooper personal foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
0:14		Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:14		Racers 30 second timeout
0:14	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-68
0:08		Eagles 30 second timeout
0:09	+3	Tray Hollowell makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	67-68
0:07	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-69
0:07		Jaylon Hall personal foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
0:07	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-69
0:07	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-70
0:02		Ta'Lon Cooper misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:02		Justice Hill personal foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
0:02		Ta'Lon Cooper misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:02		KJ Williams defensive rebound
0:02		Ta'Lon Cooper misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:02		KJ Williams defensive rebound
0:02		Johni Broome personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
0:02	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-71
0:02		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:02		Jake Wolfe defensive rebound

Jake Wolfe defensive rebound