Nashville, TN (My Sportsbook) Tony Easley scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the top-seeded Murray State Racers to a 55-51 victory over the fourth-seeded Eastern Illinois Panthers in the semifinal round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Isaac Miles and B.J. Jenkins added nine points apiece in the win for Murray State (29-4). Eastern Illinois (19-12) was held without a double-digit scorer in the meeting, as Shaun Pratl paced with squad with nine points off the bench. The Racers were held to a miserable 25.0 percent shooting from the floor during the opening frame, but they still managed to take a slim 23-22 lead into the break. In the second half, both squads hit 40.7 percent from the field, but a 7-of-10 effort from the foul line enabled the Racers to escape with a four-point win. The Panthers were guilty of 17 giveaways in the loss. Murray State advances to play the championship game on Sunday against the winner of sixth-seeded Tennessee Tech and third-seeded Morehead State. |
