RICHMOND, Ky. – Forward Michael Brock celebrated Senior Night in style, equaling team highs in both points (12) and rebounds (eight) to help the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team defeat Samford Tuesday night in McBrayer Arena, 46-38. The win was the sixth in a row for the Colonels (16-9, 11-6 OVC) and moved EKU into a tie with Samford (14-12, 11-6) in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

Eastern Kentucky led throughout most of the contest, falling behind just once after two Jason Black free throws put Samford ahead, 13-12. The Colonels responded with a 9-2 spurt to end the half, keyed by an Adam Leonard three-pointer on Eastern's final possession, and took a 21-15 lead into intermission. Bulldog center Travis Peterson tallied all but two of Samford's first half points as the rest of the team went 0-for-13 from the field.

Seven straight points early in the second stanza put EKU ahead by 10, 28-18, with 16:44 remaining. A lay-up from sophomore Mike Rose then gave Eastern its largest advantage of the contest, 34-20.

Leonard's third trifecta allowed the Colonels to maintain a comfortable 41-32 cushion with 4:23 left, but Eastern Kentucky would not make a field goal the rest of the way. Samford was able to cut the deficit to three points, 41-38, inside a minute remaining in regulation when Curtis West banked in a three-pointer.

From there, Brock stepped up and sealed the game with his play on the offensive glass and at the free throw line. Fellow senior Julian Mascoll missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation only to see Brock haul in the rebound. Brock then netted a free throw to push the lead back to four points, 42-38, with 38 seconds showing on the clock. After a missed Samford three-point attempt, the Colonels could not capitalize at the free throw line. However, Brock kept the ball in Eastern's possession with a tipped offensive board on the second missed free throw.

Rose hit his ensuing free throw attempts to stretch the EKU lead to six points, 44-38. Following one more missed Samford three-pointer, Brock connected on two more free throws to seal the victory.

The 38 points given up by Eastern Kentucky were the fewest since Dec. 2, 1989, when the Colonels defeated the District of Columbia, 78-38.

Besides Brock's 12 points, Leonard (12) and Rose (10) also finished in double figures. Mascoll chipped in with seven assists and eight rebounds.

Peterson recorded 23 points and seven rebounds to pace the Bulldogs.

The Colonels are right back in action on Thursday, Feb. 15, with their final home game of the season against Jacksonville State. Tip time is slated for 7:30 p.m.