Box Score MOREHEAD, Ky. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated Morehead State, 80-67, Thursday night.
Sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) flirted with the program's first triple-double of the NCAA Division I era before finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half.
Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) added 11 points, but with 4:56 remaining in the first half he left the game after sustaining an apparent ankle injury following a transition 3-point field goal.
Muszynski was held out the final 25 minutes of the game as a precaution, per the Belmont coaching staff.
Belmont held Morehead State scoreless the final 5:37 of the first half, outscoring the Eagles 14-0 to lead 34-25 at halftime.
From there, Belmont shot 60 percent from the field in the second half, riding timely offense from Murphy and Kunkel.
Morehead State got within 54-51 on a Djimon Henson layin, but a layin from senior Seth Adelsperger (Peru, Ind.) capped an 8-0 Belmont run to push the margin back to 11.
Consecutive 3-point field goals from junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.) and sophomore Tate Pierson (Brentwood, Tenn.) gave Belmont a 72-59 lead with 4:24 left.
10 Bruins scored as Belmont forced 17 Morehead State turnovers.
Tyzhaun Claude led Morehead State (12-16, 6-9 OVC) with 14 points.
Belmont has won 15 of 17 meetings in the series.
Belmont (21-7, 12-3 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Feb. 22 at Eastern Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.
