Game 556 - First of 68

Ohio Valley championship
(2) Belmont vs. (1) Murray State
March 3 at Ford Center in Evansville, IN
ESPN2

Murray State completed a fantastic turnaround and advanced to the NCAAs for the first time since 2011-12 with a 68-51 victory.

The Racers finished 16-17 a year ago, but moved to 26-5 with their 13th consecutive victory (last loss was to this same Belmont team on January 18). Johnathan Stark led the way with 24 points, and though he struggled from three-point range (2-of-10), he was excellent on twos (8-of-11). Three others were in double figures for the Racers - Temetrius Morant (15 points) and Leroy Buchanan and Terrell Miller (11 each).

* Roy Philpott and Adrian Branch!

"he lives in the gym"
"Kyrie Irvingesque"
"dynamite from bonus land"
"stop and pop for a three-point shot"
"plays with a chip on his shoulder the right way" (?)
"put back presence"
"got caught ball-watching"

"dribble drive" ! - 11:32 left in the first half

"a bubblelicious match up"
"plays bigger than his 6-2 frame"
"coach K"
"Luke dropping dimes like it's his job, and it is"/"Austin Luke is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers"
"center by committee"
"what did Kevin McClain eat pregame? gun powder!"
"Joey brackets"