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MARTIN, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team hit a season-high 14 three-pointers and cruised to a 74-60 win over host UT Martin Tuesday night in the Elam Center. With the win, the Colonels (10-10, 7-5 OVC) completed the season sweep over the Skyhawks (10-13, 6-7).
Adam Leonard spearheaded the Colonel three-point barrage as the sophomore equaled a program record with seven trifectas. The Kansas City, Mo., native finished with a career-best 23 points. Three other EKU players posted double figure points including junior
Mike Rose who added four three-pointers for 18 points. Senior
Jamaal Douglas came off the bench to chip in with 11 points and season-high nine rebounds.
For UT Martin, Marquis Weddle led all players with 25 points and netted seven three-pointers as well. Lester Hudson, who entered the game as the nation's second leading scorer, was held to 15 points. This was just the fourth time all season Hudson was held under 20 points.
Eastern Kentucky never trailed in the contest as the Colonels recorded 11 of the first 13 points. A Leonard three-pointer gave EKU its largest lead of the first half with 3:09 remaining, 36-22. Weddle hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer right before intermission, but Eastern Kentucky still clung to a 39-31 advantage at the break.
UT Martin responded with six straight points early in the second half to cut the deficit to three points, 44-41. However, Eastern regrouped with a 15-2 run, where the Colonels netted four long-range shots, to end any thoughts of a Skyhawk victory.
The Colonels committed just five turnovers on the evening and none in the first half. As a team, Eastern shot a season-high 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from behind the arc. Meanwhile, senior
Darnell Dialls became the 25th Colonel to register 500 career rebounds thanks to hauling in six boards against the Skyhawks.
Eastern Kentucky concludes its three-game road swing Saturday, Feb. 2 at Tennessee Tech. That game will be televised nationally by ESPNU beginning at 2 p.m.
