UT Martin holds off Morehead State 83-70 in OVC semifinal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Jacolby Mobley hit four 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 22 points to help No. 2 seed UT Martin beat No. 3 seed Morehead State 83-70 Friday night in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinal.

UT Martin (19-13) advances to Saturday's championship game against No. 8 seed Austin Peay (17-17), which upset No. 1 seed Belmont 97-96 in overtime Friday.

Trailing by three at halftime, Morehead State rallied to a 44-43 lead on Xavier Moon's jumper, but soon trailed 50-44 after the Skyhawks' Alex Anderson made a 3-pointer with 16:24 left.

Mobley's pair of free throws gave the Skyhawks a 67-54 lead and UT Martin pulled away while the Eagles went scoreless for 3 1/2 minutes.

Twymond Howard scored 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for UT Martin, which led 40-37 at halftime on 67 percent shooting. Kedar Edwards and Alex Anderson added 13 points apiece.

Brent Arrington led the Eagles (19-12) with 15 points.