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RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior
Darnell Dialls equaled his career high with 25 points and nailed the game-winning three-pointer with 13.3 seconds remaining to help the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team earn a 72-69 win over Eastern Illinois Monday night in McBrayer Arena. The Colonels (5-5, 2-0 OVC) have now won seven straight meetings against the Panthers (1-9, 0-3).
Eastern Kentucky led throughout most of the contest and found itself ahead, 69-64, with 2:06 left in regulation. However, Eastern Illinois quickly rallied with buckets on its next two possessions to level the game with 48 seconds left. EIU's Romain Martin hit his sixth three-pointer to bring the Panthers within two points before Bobby Catchings converted a mid-range jumper to make the score, 69-all.
Following a Colonel timeout, EKU let the clock wind down before Dialls attempted a three-pointer from the right wing which banked off the glass and through the goal. The Panthers used their final timeout to draw up one last play, but junior
Mike Rose blocked EIU's three-point attempt with two seconds left to seal the win.
Eastern Kentucky netted seven trifectas in the opening half to build a 10-point cushion, 29-19, with 4:00 remaining. Behind a pair of Martin three-pointers, the Panthers fought back to within four points heading into intermission, 33-29.
The Colonels managed to establish a nine-point lead twice in the second half, but Eastern Illinois would not go away. Bobby Catchings hit his only three-pointer with 6:37 showing on the clock to put the Panthers ahead for the first time since midway in the first half, 60-59. Back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore
Adam Leonard and Rose then gave EKU a 65-60 advantage, and set the stage for the dramatic finish.
Dialls led all players with 11 rebounds to earn his first career double-double. Rose netted a season-high five three-pointers on his way to chipping in with 25 points as well.
EIU's Martin posted a career-high 28 points while going 6-for-9 (66.7 percent) from behind the arc. Catchings added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Eastern Kentucky is 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference action for the first time since 1999-00. The Colonels are right back in action Wednesday, Dec. 19, with a home contest against Tennessee-Martin. Tip time is slated for 7:30 p.m.
