CONWAY, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season today, Dec. 4, with a convincing 77-62 road win at Coastal Carolina (0-6). The 5-0 start is the Colonels' best since the 1951-52 season.

Junior guard Jason McLeish led all scorers with a season-high 19 points to go along with three steals. Junior Alonzo Hird followed with his first double-double performance of the year with 17 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high five blocked shots. Senior Michael Haney added 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot, while Matt Witt had 12 points and seven assists. Witt has now had seven or more assists in four straight games.

The Colonels shot a blistering 65.4% (17-for-26) from the field in the second half to give them a season-high percentage of 58.8% (30-for-51) for the game. EKU also posted a season-highs with eight blocks and from three-point range, sinking 5-of-11 from behind the arc for 45.5%.

The Colonels led by 10 mid-way through the first half, leading 21-10 with 9:33 to play, after a jumper by Hird. The Chanticleers pulled to within six (23-17) with 7:44 after a 7-2 run. EKU answered with a 7-3 run capped by a three by Witt to take its largest lead of the half at 28-17 with 6:49 remaining. CCU outscored the Colonels 14-4 to end the half and take its first lead of the game with a 32-31 halftime lead.

McLeish went to work early in the second, scoring 10 of EKU's first 14 points of the half to put the Colonels up by eight (47-39) at the 13:23 mark. The Chanticleers would pull to within six (56-50) on a jumper by Pele Paelay remaining, but that was as close as they would come thanks to the hot-shooting Colonels. EKU ended the game with a 19-8 run and held CCU to just three field goals over the final 2:15 and went on to win by the final score of 77-62.

The Colonels return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 8, as they travel to Bowling Green, Ky., to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Tip-off is slated for 8 PM.