Recap: Murray State vs. Eastern Ky

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Isaiah Canaan scored a game-high 29 points as the Murray State Racers captured an 81-73 win over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Municipal Auditorium.

Canaan, who shot 10-of-19 from the field and handed out six assists, surpassed the 2,000-point mark for his career with second-seeded Murray State (21-9) which is headed to the title game for the second straight year and will face newcomer and top-seeded Belmont on Saturday night.

Also scoring in double figures for the Racers were Stacy Wilson with 17 points and Brandon Garrett with 11 in the victory.

Third-seeded Eastern Kentucky (24-9) was paced by Eric Stutz with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Mike DiNunno was responsible for 15 points and six assists, followed by Glenn Cosey and Corey Walden with 13 points and seven rebounds apiece.

Murray State made good on an impressive 60.7 percent from the floor in the first half, compared to 45.8 percent for the Colonels, yet the teams found themselves tied at the break, 38-38. Eastern Kentucky managed to knot the score by holding a 12-1 scoring edge at the free-throw line over the first 20 minutes of action.

In the second half the Racers made a much bigger impression at the charity stripe, connecting on 15-of-19, in order to capture the eight-point victory.

In a contest that featured five ties and 18 lead changes, Murray State posted a 42-24 scoring advantage in the paint.

MSU, which defeated Tennessee State in the title game a year ago, 54-52, has won the OVC championship a total of 15 times, 10 more than any other current member of the league.