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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team shot 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the floor and cruised to a 70-51 win over Tennessee-Martin Wednesday night in McBrayer Arena. The Colonels (6-5, 3-0 OVC) remain perfect in conference play while the Skyhawks (5-6, 1-2) dropped their second consecutive OVC tilt.
UT Martin entered the contest averaging a league-high 81.3 points per game, but the Eastern Kentucky defense held UTM to its lowest point total of the season. Skyhawk guard Lester Hudson, who was ranked among the top five scorers nationally at 27.4 ppg, was held scoreless in the first half as the Colonels raced out to a 36-14 lead.
Junior
Ryan Wiersma sparked the Colonels' stellar play in the first half as the forward came off the bench to lead all players with eight points and seven rebounds. Wiersma finished with contest with season highs in points (eight), rebounds (eight), steals (two) and blocks (two).
After Tennessee-Martin opened the game by hitting its first three-point attempt, Eastern Kentucky responded with the next 14 points and never looked back. Sophomore
Adam Leonard's second trifecta in the opening half gave the Colonels their largest lead of the stanza, 36-14, right before halftime.
The Skyhawks never seriously threatened the Colonels in the second half allowing EKU to tally its seventh win in the last eight meetings against UT Martin in McBrayer Arena.
Junior
Mike Rose was the only Eastern Kentucky player to finish in double figures with 18 points. Freshman
Justin Stommes equaled his season high with nine points while Leonard set a career best with eight assists. As a team, the Colonels recorded a season-best 24 assists.
Hudson came to life in the second half for Tennessee-Martin as the guard piled up 20 points. Djero Riedewald added 10 points on 71.4 percent (5-of-7) shooting from the floor.
Eastern Kentucky is 3-0 in OVC competition for the first time since 1991-92. The Colonels have not begun 4-0 in league play since 1978-79.
EKU is back in action this Saturday, Dec. 22, at preseason OVC favorite Austin Peay. Game time is set for 8 p.m.
