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Murray State downs Morehead State, remains unbeaten

Jan 19, 2012 - 4:30 AM Morehead, KY (Sports Network) - Isaiah Canaan didn't have his best night from the floor, but came up huge when Murray State needed him most.

Canaan finished the night with 20 points on 4-of-10 shooting and just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc, but his play down the stretch helped No. 12 Murray State hold off Morehead State, 66-60, and remain undefeated.

Donte Poole had 15 points and five rebounds for the Racers (19-0, 7-0 OVC), who are just one of two -- along with Syracuse -- unbeatens in Division I basketball.

Canaan and Poole combined to go 18-of-21 from the free-throw line.

Drew Kelly had 20 points on 6-of-6 shooting with six rebounds for Morehead State (9-11, 3-4), which has lost three of four.

Angelo Warner put the brakes on a 6:56 Morehead State field-goal drought with a rare four-point play. He nailed a three-pointer from the left corner and knocked down the subsequent free throw to give the Eagles a 51-49 lead with 6:03 to play in regulation.

But Canaan was responsible for the next 10 Murray State points.

He tied the game with a pair of free throws and then assisted on a Zay Jackson three-pointer to give the Racers a 54-53 lead with 5:00 remaining.

After Milton Chavis made a pair from the line, Canaan nailed a trey and then another pair of free throws for a 59-55 Murray State advantage with 3:03 left.

An Austin Lamont bucket made it a one-possession game, 62-59, with 39 seconds remaining, but Canaan and Poole hit their free throws in the final seconds to seal it.

Morehead State's defense forced six steals and 10 Murray State turnovers in the opening 10 minutes as the Eagles jumped out to a 19-9 start. But the Racers committed just one turnover in the final 10 minutes as Morehead State took a 37-31 lead into the break.

Trailing 46-37 with 12:59 remaining in regulation, the Racers clamped down defensively and Poole capped a 10-0 run with a three-pointer from the left corner to give Murray State its first lead of the contest with 7:41 to play.

Ty Profit made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game on the other end and snap a 5:45 Morehead State scoreless drought.

Game Notes

Murray State had not won at Morehead State since a 64-52 victory on February 9, 2008...Murray State starting forward Ivan Aska, who averages 12.6 points and 6.0 rebounds, missed his fifth straight game with a broken right hand... Morehead State has not hosted a top-25 opponent since an 89-70 loss to No. 9 Western Kentucky on February 20, 1971.