Bobcats fall in CBI semifinals

Published 3:00 am Thursday, March 24, 2016

ATHENS (AP) — Xavier Moon scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half, and Lyonell Gaines finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds to help Morehead State beat Ohio 77-72 Wednesday night in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational Tournament.

Corban Collins added 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and Brent Arrington scored 11 for Morehead State.

Collins hit a 3, and Arrington made four foul shots, during a 9-3 run that put Morehead State (22-12) up 74-68 with 39 seconds left.

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Jaaron Simmons hit a pair of free throws and, after Anthony Elechi made 1 of 2 on the other end, Jordan Dartis added two more to pull the Bobcats within three with 17 seconds to go, but they would get no closer.

The game featured 19 lead changes and 11 ties.

Morehead State shot just 38 percent (25 of 66) from the field, but made 20 of 22 (91 percent) free throws and scored 15 points off 18 Ohio turnovers.

Simmons scored 21 and Treg Setty added 20 for Ohio (23-12). Kenny Kaminski hit five 3s and finished with 15 points.

“I want to say thanks to this group for such a fun year. I want to say goodbye to Treg. There is nothing you can say other than he left it all on the floor in the CBI,” said Ohio second-year coach Saul Phillips.

“Guys take journeys in their careers and then there’s the journey that Treg took. It was all over the place and it went to places that I’m sure he never imagined, but through it all his passion for the game, his raw emotion at times always made him fun to coach. I’ve have a lot of respect for that guy.”

The Eagles, who have won 10 of their last 11, will face Nevada (22-13) in a best-of-three series — beginning next Monday — for the title. Nevada beat Vermont 86-72.