Morehead State takes OVC title over Austin Peay

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Steve Peterson's only basket sent Morehead State to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 25 years.

The freshman made a pullup jumper with 1.4 seconds left in double overtime to give the Eagles a 67-65 win over Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament final Saturday night.

Kenneth Faried had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles (18-15), who haven't been to the NCAA tournament since 1984.

Drake Reed and Wes Channels led the Governors (19-12) with 16 points each but they let an 11-point second-half lead get away and missed all five shots in the second overtime.

The Eagles poured onto the floor as the buzzer sounded while Faried hopped into the stands to hug his mother.

Peterson's shot looked like it wouldn't be necessary after the Eagles took their first lead of the second half on a dunk by Faried that gave them a 57-55 lead with 6.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

Austin Peay called timeout and Wes Channels dribbled the length of the floor before losing the ball when he got into the lane. It squirted free to Brown, who banked in a leaner from about 12-feet as the horn sounded.

Brown's exploits sent the game into overtime, and the teams struggled through the first extra session giving away chances to win the game.

Morehead State's Demonte Harper got called for a charge while trying to get in the lane with 2.8 seconds left and the score tied at 63. Channels, however, had his 3-pointer blocked by Faried at the buzzer to send it into a second overtime.

The Eagles took the lead early in overtime on a layup by Brandon Shingles. Austin Peay couldn't get anything going as Faried shut down the middle.

Morehead State threw away a couple of chances to put the game away, and Austin Peay tied it at 65 on a pair of free throws by Reed with 28 seconds left.

The Eagles took over and after a timeout Shingles dribbled into the lane before finding Peterson in the corner. He pump faked, took a dribble and pulled up from 10 feet for the game-winner.

The shot finished a second-half collapse by the Governors, who appeared to be in control when they went up 42-31 with 14:09 remaining.

The Eagles kept hanging around as Faried got hot, eventually tying the game at 55 on a pair of free throws with 2:15 remaining.

The teams traded misses when Morehead State got the ball back with 41 seconds remaining. Brandon Shingles dribbled near midcourt as the clock wound down and appeared to put up what looked like a rushed 3-pointer from the top of the key. It wasn't. The perfectly thrown alley-oop met Faried at the rim and he slammed it home.

The fun was just starting.

The win completed a turnaround for the program that began three years ago when coach Donnie Tyndall was hired to replace Kyle Macy following a 4-23 season that was among the worst in the country.

The process has been slow and steady, and the Eagles looked ready to compete for the regular season crown after sweeping the Governors during the regular season.

A late four-game slide had the Eagles reeling heading into the conference tournament, though they quickly rebounded with wins over Eastern Kentucky and top-seeded Tennessee Martin.


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