Jan. 19, 2010

Box Score

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Kenneth Faried led the way for Morehead State in a 66-46 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in men's college basketball at Johnson Arena.

Faried scored 23 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for Morehead State, one of the preseason favorites in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Eagles improved to 13-6. SIUE fell to 2-16.

SIUE now returns home Thursday to the Vadalabene Center for the first of two games this season against non-NCAA Division I competition. The Cougars entertain Robert Morris (Springfield) at 7:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, Aamir McCleary finished as the Cougars' leading scorer. He provided 14 points and his five rebounds tied for the team lead in rebounds with Anthony Mitchell.

SIUE shot nearly the same from the field as the host Eagles. The Cougars shot 35.7 from the field (16-42) to Morehead State's 36.7 percent (22-60).

"I thought they played hard and eliminated some transition baskets," said SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester of his team.

It was a case of too many opportunities for the Eagles. They benefitted from 21 offensive rebounds and 22 SIUE turnovers. Morehead State scored 16 points off second chances and 18 off turnovers.

SIUE was solid for much of the first half, gaining a four-point lead on a jumper by David Boarden with 6:44 to play.

"Our guys came ready to compete," said Forrester.

Morehead State, however, found its shooting touch in the first half with a 15-0 run over the next four minutes to take a double-digit lead.

Faried, the nation's leading rebounder, helped Morehead State win the battle off the glass. The Eagles outrebounded SIUE 47-27.

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