The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

November 4, 2011

MSU whips D-I Morehead State

From staff and wire reports

BECKLEY — David Nyarsuk scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as NAIA No. 2 Mountain State beat Division I Morehead State 84-69 Thursday night in an exhibition game at Johnson Arena.

It was the Cougars’ first win over a Division I opponent in school history.

Morehead knocked out Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last March.

“Being the first one, it’s good for our program,” MSU coach Bob Bolen said. “Anytime you can beat a team of that caliber, even in an exhibition game, it’s a confidence builder for our team.”

Mountain State started fast and built as much as a 12-point first-half lead before settling for an eight-point lead at the break, 43-35.

That start was key.

“We got off to that fast start and our guys believed that they could play with (Morehead State),” Bolen said. “I thought that was big.”

MSU lost by 19 points in an exhibition game at Morehead last year.

MSU handled Morehead’s constant pressure, which was something Bolen had stressed after the Cougars committed 17 turnovers against Salem Tuesday night in Beckley in a 101-71 win.

“They pressed the whole game and (point guard) Mark Williams handled it,” Bolen said. “He played the whole game and had five assists and three turnovers, 12 points and five offensive rebounds.

The Cougars shot over 50 percent from the field and owned the glass 47-28.

“Everybody played well. David (Nyarsuk) and Isaiah (Hill) had 14 and nine rebounds, and out guards helped. It was a total team effort.”

MSU (2-0) returns home to face Glenville State at 4 p.m. at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. It will be the Cougars’ fourth game in eight days.



MSU 84, Morehead State 69

Mountain State

Devon Peterson 6-8 1-3 16, Cam Miller 5-13 0-0 12, Mark Williams 2-4 8-11 12, Isaiah Hill 6-12 3-7 15, Creshaun Holt 1-2  3-4 6, Mantas Drungys 1-3 0-0 2, Bruce Komakech 0-0 0-0 0, David Nyarsuk 7-12 5-7 19, Steven Gatkuoth 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 29-56 20-32 84.

Morehead State

Drew Kelly 5-7 2-2 13, Kahlil Owens 0-2 0-0 0, Marsell Holden 1-6 3-5 6, Deandre Mathieu 0-2 0-0 0, Lamont Austin 0-2 0-0 0, Terrence Hill 8-22 0-0 19, Ty Proffitt 1-6 2-2 4, Dionte Ferguson 1-2 4-4 6, Angelo Warner 1-5 2-2 4, Milton Chavis 6-10 1-3 13, Will Bailey 1-1 0-0 2 Totals: 25-67 14-18 69.

Halftime: MSU 43-35. Three-point goals: MSU: 6-22 (Peterson 3-4, Miller 2-10, Williams 0-1, Hill 0-3, Holt 1-2, Drungys 0-2); MS: 5-22 (Kelly 1-1, Holden 1-6, Austin 0-1, Hill 3-9, Proffitt 0-2, Warner 1-5, Chavis 0-1); Rebounds: MSU: 47 (Nyarsuk 14, Hill 9), MS: 28 (Warner 6)); Assists MSU: 21 (Miller 7), MS: 11 (Chavis 3) Fouled out: Kelly, Owens.

 

Text Only
College Sports