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 second-seeded Morehead State.
Final Score: Morehead State 76, Tennessee Tech 47
Nashville, TN (My Sportsbook) - Maze Stallworth poured in 24 points as the second-seeded Morehead State Eagles easily handled the sixth-seeded Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, 76-47, in a semifinal affair in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
Kenneth Faried, Demonte Harper and Terrance Hill all scored 10 points for Morehead State (23-9). With tonight's victory, the Eagles will move on to face the top-seeded Murray State Racers in the conference championship game tomorrow night.
Alfred Jones, Elijah Muhammad, Jud Dillard and Zach Bailey all led Tennessee Tech (15-17) with nine points apiece in the loss.
Morehead State took a healthy 39-21 advantage into the intermission after holding Tennessee Tech to just 28.6 percent shooting from the floor in the opening half.
Despite shooting 38.7 percent in the second stanza, Morehead State only allowed nine field goals by the Golden Eagles, as strong defense sealed the victory.
Tennessee Tech was undisciplined on the night, committing 20 turnovers that led to 27 points for Morehead State.
