NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team led from start to finish on its way to a 65-53 win over host Tennessee State Saturday night in the Gentry Center. With the win, the Colonels (18-11, 13-7 OVC) earned the second seed in the upcoming Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
The Colonels finished the regular season in a three-way tie, along with Tennessee Tech and Murray State, for second place in the final OVC standings. However, Eastern went 3-1 against the other two programs this season, giving the Colonels the first tie-breaker and the number two seed.
Three EKU players finished in double figures against Tennessee State led by sophomore Mike Rose's 18 points. Meanwhile, juniors Jamaal Douglas and Darnell Dialls combined for 26 points on 84.6 percent (11-of-13) shooting from the floor. On the defensive end, senior Michael Brock recorded his fifth double-figure rebounding game with a game-high 10 boards.
For the Tigers (12-19, 8-12), Jerrell Houston came off the bench to tally 16 points while Andrae Belton added 12 points and six rebounds.
Eastern Kentucky scored 15 of the first 19 points in the game, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Rose and freshman Adam Leonard, and never looked back. The Colonels twice established cushions of 18 points in the opening half before settling on a 31-15 advantage at intermission. EKU held the Tigers to just 18.5 percent (5-of-27) shooting in the first stanza.
Tennessee State made one charge in the second half behind two consecutive Belton trifectas to cut the deficit to eight with 11:24 remaining, 42-34. Rose then answered with five straight points to push the lead back to 13 points and the Tigers never threatened again.
Eastern's 13 league victories equals a program record set back in the 1964-65 season. The Colonels also ended the regular season with six OVC road wins, the most since 1964-65.
The Colonels will next return home to host seventh seed Morehead State in the opening round of the 2007 OVC Tournament this Tuesday, Feb. 27. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
