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HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team led from start to finish in an 83-47 victory over host Fairleigh Dickinson Friday night in Stratis Arena. This game was part of the 2008 Legends Classic produced by the Gazelle Group. EKU moves to 3-2 while the Knights fall to 0-4.

Senior Mike Rose led all players in scoring (17 points) and rebounding (nine boards). Juniors Josh Taylor (13 points) and Papa Oppong (12) also reached double figures and combined for 13 rebounds. For the second straight game, the Colonels shot at least 50 percent from the floor (55.6 percent).

For Fairleigh Dickinson, Cameron Tyler and Sean Baptiste combined for 23 points.

Eastern Kentucky tallied 10 of the first 12 points of the contest and never looked back. The Knights cut the deficit to three points on a few occasions, but Eastern strung together 11 consecutive points late in the opening half to take a 41-24 lead into the locker rooms.

Fairleigh Dickinson hung around for the first 10 minutes of the second half before three consecutive three-pointers, two from Rose and one from freshman Mike Lewis, stretched the Colonel advantage to 24 points with 8:51 remaining, 61-37.

This was the first meeting between EKU and FDU. The Colonels last played a Northeast Conference opponent on Dec. 11, 2004, when Eastern defeated Robert Morris, 79-69. EKU is now 6-4 all-time against current NEC opponents.

The Colonels wrap up the 2008 Legends Classic tomorrow night in a neutral site game against Akron. Game time is set for 7 p.m.