Potential Knicks draft target Ja Morant posts triple-double in NCAA Tournament upset

Sophomore guard leads No. 12 Murray State to rout over No. 5 Marquette

3/21/2019, 11:42 PM
undefinedRobert Deutsch
undefinedRobert Deutsch

With a chance to perform on a national stage, Ja Morant didn't disappoint.

Knicks fans are focusing their hope on the ping-pong balls going their way to get the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA Draft, the ticket to drafting Duke's Zion Williamson. But Morant has been boosting his resume all year, and more people will be talking about the guard after he put up a triple-double Thursday to lead No. 12 Murray State in an 83-64 upset victory over No. 5 Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Morant had 17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds in helping Murray State advance to a second-round matchup with No. 4 Florida State on Saturday in the West Region. The sophomore guard recorded the ninth triple-double in NCAA Tournament history and became the eighth player to record one; Draymond Green had two Tournament triple-doubles.

The Morant bandwagon will only get more crowded if he performs well again on Saturday in a winnable game against the Seminoles, who were tested by No. 13 Vermont but pulled out a 76-69 win.

Popular in the Community