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Rex Morgan dies after six-year cancer fight

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Former Jacksonville standout Rex Morgan, a two-year starter who helped the Dolphins reach the 1970 national championship game, died early Friday. He was 67.

Jacksonville announced that Morgan, a Charleston, Illinois, native, had died after university officials were notified by family members. Morgan battled throat cancer for six years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2010.

After leading Jacksonville in scoring as a junior, Morgan helped the Dolphins to a 27-2 record in 1969-70 and to the title game against John Wooden's UCLA. In five NCAA tournament games that year, Morgan averaged 20.4 points.

Morgan was a second-round draft pick by Boston in 1970. He spent two seasons with the Celtics.

His survivors include his wife, Kathleen; son, Taylor; and daughter, Lyndsay.