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RICHMOND, Ky. – In Eastern Kentucky University's second consecutive game televised by ESPNU, the Colonel men's basketball team held visiting Murray State to a season-low 47 points on the way to a 60-47 victory Thursday night in McBrayer Arena. Eastern (12-10, 9-5 OVC) completed the season sweep over the Racers (14-9, 10-5) and moved within a half-game of second place in the conference standings.
Junior
Mike Rose led all players in points (15) and rebounds (six), to go along with a career-high six steals. Senior
Darnell Dialls added 14 points while freshman
Justin Stommes tallied 13 points on 66.7 percent (4-of-6) shooting from the field. Dialls and Stommes combined for 10 rebounds as well.
For Murray State, Bruce Carter and Kevin Thomas each finished with 10 points. The Racers shot 55.6 percent (10-of-18) in the second half, but also totaled 13 turnovers in that span.
After the Racers took an early 10-6 lead, the Colonels responded with three consecutive three-pointers to go ahead, 15-10. Eastern Kentucky would not trail the rest of the way as the home squad began the game 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) from behind the arc.
The Colonel defense held Murray State without a point the final 10:34 of the first half, but EKU also went cold from the field with 13 straight misses. Dialls ended the drought with a long jumper right before intermission to give Eastern a 29-16 advantage at halftime.
Eastern Kentucky's lead swelled to 21 points, 45-24, midway through the second stanza when Dialls netted his second trifecta of the contest. However, the Racers rallied with 11 unanswered points, capped by a Tyler Holloway three-pointer, to slash the deficit to 10 with 4:57 remaining.
Murray State did not get any closer, though, as Rose's fourth three-pointer stretched the EKU cushion back to 15 points, 54-39, with three minutes left.
This was Eastern Kentucky's fourth straight win over Murray State, a feat the Colonels had not accomplished since 1960.
EKU is right back in action on Saturday, Feb. 9, with a home game against Southeast Missouri. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
