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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team held visiting Jacksonville State to 14 first half points on the way to a 71-55 win Thursday night in McBrayer Arena. The Colonels (8-9, 5-4 OVC) picked up their second consecutive victory and stopped the Gamecocks' (4-13, 2-7) two-game win streak.

Junior Mike Rose tallied his first career double-double with 17 points and a personal-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore Adam Leonard paced the Colonels with 19 points while senior Darnell Dialls almost registered a triple-double (nine points, nine assists and eight rebounds).

For Jacksonville State, freshman Nick Murphy led all scorers with a career-high 21 points. Jonathan Toles chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds.

After a sluggish start for both teams, the host Colonels turned up the scoring in the final nine minutes of the half thanks to a 28-4 run. Eastern Kentucky netted 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) field goal attempts during that stretch to take a commanding 34-14 lead into intermission. The Colonel defense did not allow a Jacksonville State offensive rebound in the first half and forced 11 turnovers.

Three-pointers from Leonard, Rose and sophomore Josh Taylor helped Eastern Kentucky extend its cushion to 29 points, 52-23, with 13:53 remaining. The Gamecocks used a 10-0 run late in the game to cut the deficit to 13 points, but would get no closer.

Eastern Kentucky improved to 5-0 all-time against Jacksonville State at home.

The Colonels are right back in action Saturday evening with a home contest against OVC foe Samford. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.