Feb. 14, 2004

Box Score

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State senior Ricky Minard scored a game-high 23 points, 19 in the second half to lead the Eagles to a 65-52 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Samford University Saturday night.

Morehead State moved to 13-10, 8-4 in the OVC benefiting from 29 more free throw attempts than the Bulldogs who drop to 10-13, 5-7 in the OVC.

MSU was 22-31 from the foul line and the Bulldogs were one for two as Samford was called for a season-high 24 fouls while MSU was whistled for just eight in the game.

Eddie Harper led the Bulldogs with 19 points while J. Robert Merritt added 10 points for the Bulldogs who held a 28-23 lead at halftime.

"If it was tragic it would be comical," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette of his team's shooting on Saturday. "I think we have good shooters. We just haven't shot the ball well the last two games. I didn't think we took a bad three-pointer tonight but we were 9-of-34. We competed for a half and were up five. In the second half we did a poor job of staying in front of Minard and there was the discrepancy in free throws."

Samford took its largest lead at 40-33 on a jumper by Randall Gulina at the 12:56 mark of the second half before Josh Reed hit on MSU's first three-pointer of the night to cut the lead to four points. Gulina scored on the Bulldogs next possession to move the lead back to 42-36 at the 12:14 mark.

Samford would score just two points over the next 10:22 as the Eagles forced seven turnovers and made nine of 11 free throws off of eight Samford fouls while being whistled for two fouls despite pressing full court during a 20-2 run.

Minard had 11 points, three assists, two steals, and one blocked shot during the run as he finished the game with a double-double adding 13 rebounds. He scored nine of his 23 points from the free throw line. Chad McKnight had 13 points, 10 in the first half, while Ramon Kelly added 11 points for the Eagles.

MSU built its largest lead 59-44 with 1:52 to play before Harper hit a three-pointer with 1:36 left to break the Bulldogs scoring drought. Samford scored eight points in the final minute and a half.

Samford will return on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to face conference-leading Austin Peay in a 7 p.m. game at Seibert Hall.