RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Matt Witt recorded his 211th career three-pointer, setting a school record, and finished with a game-high 24 points to help the Eastern Kentucky men's basketball team earn a 60-51 victory over Coastal Carolina Friday night in McBrayer Arena. The win was the third in a row for the Colonels (5-6) and pushed the Chanticleers (5-5) to 0-5 on the road this season.
Witt passed former EKU player Ben Rushing '05 by going 2-of-7 from behind the arc against Coastal Carolina. For his career, Witt is 211-for-594 (35.5 percent) from long range with both numbers ranking first in the EKU annals.
Coastal took a slim 28-27 lead into the intermission thanks to an 8-0 run in the final 5:29 of the first stanza. The second half was close throughout with the largest spread just three points through 13 minutes of action. A layup by sophomore Darnell Dialls knotted up the game for the fifth time in the second half at 44-all with 6:29 left. Another Dialls basket followed by a Julian Mascoll dunk and Jason McLeish three-pointer then put the Colonels up by seven, 51-44.
Witt sealed the win with two key steals down the stretch. After the Chanticleers cut the deficit to four, 51-47, with 2:40 remaining, Witt forced a back-court steal and converted two free throws to push the lead back up to six points. A minute later, Witt came away with another steal under the EKU basket before netting an uncontested layup to make the score, 55-47.
Neither team shot the ball particularly well Friday evening with both teams shooting season lows – Eastern 36.7 percent (18-of-49) and Coastal Carolina 35.1 percent (20-of-57).
McLeish was the only other Colonel in double figures with 10 points while junior Michael Brock tallied a game-best nine rebounds and Mascoll registered a career-high six steals.
Pele Paelay notched 12 points and six boards for the Chanticleers while Jack Leasure added 10 points.
Eastern Kentucky returns to conference action Monday, Jan. 2, when the Colonels travel to Southeast Missouri. The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU beginning at 7 p.m. Coastal Carolina will next host St. Andrews on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
