Morehead State Advances In NCAA Bracket After Upsetting Louisville

Morehead State’s basketball program had not defeated Louisville since 1957. On Thursday in Denver, though, Kenneth Faried led his 13-seed Eagles to a shocking 62-61 upset of their in-state rival.

With 30 seconds remaining, Morehead State was down, 61-57. But Faried, a notoriously poor free-throw shooter, was sent to the line and managed to sink both attempts. After Louisville’s Elisha Justice, who helped swing momentum earlier with a huge three-pointer, missed his free throw, the Eagles’ Demonte Harper drained the go-ahead three-pointer with the shot clock turned off.

Faried struggled a bit from the field with 4-for-17 shooting, but he left his mark all over Friday’s game. The senior pulled down 17 from the glass to help the Eagles win the rebound battle. His most crucial contribution, however, may have been his last-second block of Louisville’s Mike Marra to seal the win. There was contact between Faried and Marra, but upon replay, it appeared to be a better no-call than upon first witnessing.

In the losing effort, the Cardinals lost Preston Knowles, their only senior, to a sprained toe. Louisville was further hampered when Peyton Siva picked up his fourth foul with over seven minutes left.

Morehead State will move on to play the winner of Thursday afternoon’s game between Richmond and Vanderbilt.