ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Eastern Kentucky men's basketball team connected on eight straight three-pointers late in the first half and early in the second half as the Colonels earned a 73-54 victory over host UNC Asheville Saturday afternoon in Justice Center. EKU moves to 4-1 on the season while the Bulldogs fall to 1-4.
Sophomore Mike Rose led three Eastern players in double figures with a game-high 24 points, his second 20-point performance of the year. Meanwhile, senior Julian Mascoll chipped in with 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half, while Jamaal Douglas added 10. On the defensive end, senior Michael Brock hauled in a personal-high 12 boards as the Colonels out-rebounded UNCA, 43-26.
A Mascoll dunk and Rose lay-in helped put EKU ahead early, 4-0. The Colonels continued to hold the lead through the first eight minutes until Vincent James netted a three-pointer to give UNC Asheville its only advantage of the contest, 10-8. Three-pointers by Rose and freshman Josh Taylor pushed Eastern back in front, 14-10. Two more trifectas inside the final minute of the half, including a buzzer-beater by sophomore Harrison Brown, stretched the Colonel lead to 10, 31-21.
In the second half, the visitors shot 63 percent (17-of-27) from the field and 70 percent (7-of-10) from behind the arc. Eastern Kentucky connected on its first six three-pointers of the stanza, capped by freshman Adam Leonard's long-range jumper with 8:27 left, to make the cushion 16 points, 55-39. Another Leonard three-pointer two minutes later gave EKU its largest lead of the game, 62-40. UNC Asheville closed the gap to 17 points with 3:04 remaining, but would get no closer as the Colonels notched their first road win of the season.
Six different EKU players recorded a three-pointer as the team finished 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) from behind the arc. On the other hand, UNCA went just 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) in three-point attempts.
The Colonels continue their three-game road swing at James Madison on Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
