MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — Jon Carroll scored 17 points to lead Morehead State to an 81-59 men’s basketball victory over Western Illinois on Saturday at Western Hall. The Eagles (17-12) never trailed, building a 43-27 halftime lead and maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. Tamaury Releford added 14 points and eight rebounds for Morehead State, which dominated inside with 42 points in the paint. Danny Stephens scored 15 points for the Leathernecks (5-24). Goanar Biliew added 14 points in the loss before an announced crowd of 624. The Eagles swept the season series, having also defeated Western Illinois 71-66 on Jan. 22. Morehead State shot efficiently from the floor while holding Western Illinois to 32 second-half points to secure the Ohio Valley Conference win.

MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — Jon Carroll scored 17 points and Tamaury Releford added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench as Morehead State dominated Western Illinois 81-59 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Western Hall. The Eagles seized control with a decisive first half, building a 16-point lead by halftime and never letting the Leathernecks mount a serious challenge. Morehead State improved to 17-12 overall and solidified its position in the Ohio Valley Conference race. Western Illinois fell to 5-24. The most important stretch of the game came early, as Morehead State established its interior dominance and defensive pressure. The Eagles opened the contest on a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Vince Dawson. Western Illinois struggled to find any offensive rhythm, committing two quick turnovers and missing its first four field goal attempts. Morehead State’s defense forced 11 Leatherneck turnovers in the game, converting them into 15 points. While Western Illinois briefly closed the gap to 9-7 on a fast-break jumper from Danny Stephens, Morehead State responded with a 12-4 surge. The Eagles consistently attacked the paint, where they finished with a 42-26 scoring advantage, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds. Releford was instrumental during this period, scoring six quick points off the bench to help extend the lead. The Leathernecks could not counter the Eagles’ balanced attack or match their efficiency. Morehead State shot 51.7% from the field on 30-of-58 shooting and posted an offensive rating of 126.8 points per 100 possessions. Western Illinois managed only 45.8% shooting and an offensive rating of 95.0. Carroll, a 6-foot-7 forward from Tallahassee, Florida, set the tone for Morehead State, adding four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes. His early layup and assist helped ignite the initial run. Releford, a 6-9 forward from Fort Smith, Arkansas, provided a massive spark in just 14 minutes, making 7-of-8 shots from the field, all near the basket. George Marshall contributed 10 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Eagles, while Anouar Mellouk of Amsterdam, Netherlands, scored 12 points. Chase Dawson had eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Western Illinois was led by Danny Stephens of Bowen, Illinois, who scored 15 points. Goanar Biliew from Denison, Iowa, added 14 points and four rebounds. Lucas Lorenzen and Francis Okwuosah each scored 10 points for the Leathernecks, who were hampered by just four assists as a team. The Eagles led 43-27 at halftime and maintained at least a 14-point cushion throughout the second half. Western Illinois never cut the deficit to single digits after the break, as Morehead State answered every modest Leatherneck run with scores in the paint or at the free-throw line. The game drew an attendance of 624 to Western Hall. Morehead State will next host Southern Indiana on Tuesday. Western Illinois travels to face SIU Edwardsville on Thursday. Morehead State entered the game as an 8.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, a spread they covered comfortably. The combined score of 140 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 145.5. National statistical projections gave the Eagles an 81.9% probability to win. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Morehead State, which defeated Western Illinois 71-66 at home on Jan. 22. The Eagles have now won four of their last five games.

MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Morehead State squad will look to solidify its position in the Ohio Valley Conference standings when it visits struggling Western Illinois on Saturday. The Eagles (15-12) have won four of their last five games, including a 94-86 victory over Tennessee State last Saturday. They will be heavily favored against a Leathernecks team mired in a 2-10 stretch over its last 12 contests. Western Illinois (5-22) has lost seven of its last eight, with its only win in that span a 79-70 home victory over Eastern Illinois on Feb. 10. Morehead State defeated Western Illinois 71-66 in the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 22 in Kentucky. The Eagles have been led recently by Jon Carroll, who is averaging 15.0 points over his last four games. He scored 22 points in a win over Tennessee Tech on Feb. 12 and followed with an 18-point, 9-rebound performance against Tennessee State. Western Illinois will rely on guard Lucas Lorenzen, its most consistent offensive threat. Lorenzen has scored 19 or more points in three of his last five outings, including a 24-point effort in the win over Eastern Illinois and another 24-point game in a loss at Tennessee State on Feb. 7. The matchup pits one of the conference’s more efficient offenses against its most porous defense. Morehead State has averaged 76.2 points during its recent 4-1 run. Western Illinois, conversely, has allowed an average of 80.1 points per game during its 1-7 slump, including a 58-point defensive showing in a loss to Arkansas-Little Rock last Thursday. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at Western Hall. Morehead State will host Southern Indiana on Tuesday in its next contest, while Western Illinois travels to face SIU Edwardsville next Thursday.