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RICHMOND, Ky. – Four Colonels scored in double figures as the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team defeated Tennessee Tech Saturday night in McBrayer Arena, 85-80. Freshman Joshua Jones led the Colonels with a career-high 25 points. With the win, EKU improves to 9-7 (3-3 OVC) while TTU drops to 8-7 (2-3 OVC).

After trailing for much of the game, Tennessee Tech took a 64-62 lead with 7:04 left. However, EKU junior Josh Taylor exploded for nine straight points – an old fashioned three-point play and two consecutive three-pointers – to give the Colonels a lead they would not relinquish.

EKU shot 55 percent (28-of-51) from the field, including 64 percent (16-of-25) in the second half. The Colonels also connected on 12-of-26 (46 percent) three-pointers.

Jones went 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from deep. Most importantly, the freshman connected on 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) free throws, six of which came in the last minute of the game. Senior Mike Rose, the Colonels’ leading scorer, went for 18 points while Taylor and sophomore Justin Stommes chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Freshman big man Jorge Camacho scored seven points and led the Colonels with five rebounds.

Sophomore Frank Davis paced TTU with a career-high 24 points. The guard went 7-of-12 (53.8 percent) from behind the arc for the Golden Eagles.

EKU took an early 10-2 lead, connecting on four of its first five field goal attempts. Jones led the way, hitting two consecutive three-point buckets and then slicing to the basket for a layup to begin the game. Two baskets in the paint by Camacho expanded the Colonels’ lead to double digits, 14-4, with 12:28 remaining in the first half.

A bucket by Rose with 8:16 showing on the clock gave EKU its biggest lead of the first half, 24-10. Tennessee Tech then went on a 6-0 run to cut the Colonels’ lead to eight before a Stommes three-pointer at the 4:28 mark ended the run and gave EKU another double-digit advantage.

Over the next four minutes, Davis connected on three consecutive three-pointers and sophomore Will Barnes converted a three-point play to give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game, 30-29. EKU’s Taylor, however, drilled a three-pointer with seconds left in the half to send the Colonels into intermission with a slim 32-30 advantage.

Jones paced the Colonels at halftime with 10 points on 3-of-6 (50 percent) shooting, including going 2-of-5 (40 percent) from deep. Rose, meanwhile, chipped in with six points.

TTU was led at the break by Davis with nine points, all of which came on three-pointers inside a two minute time span.

A three from the corner by freshman Deveyon Hunter gave the Colonels a 50-44 lead at the 13:21 mark of the second half. Davis, however, stayed hot for the Golden Eagles, burying another three-pointer to bring TTU to within three points. Freshman Bassey Inameti then converted a tip in to slash the Colonels’ lead to one. A Jones three-pointer on the ensuing possession put EKU in control again with a 53-49 lead.

A fast break dunk by TTU junior D.J. Lindsay gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the second half, 64-62, with 7:04 showing on the clock. A series of ties and lead changes ensued before Taylor converted a three-point play and then buried consecutive threes to propel the Colonels to a 76-69 advantage with 3:40 to play.

EKU would hit 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

The Colonels return to action on Thursday, January 15, at Eastern Illinois. Tip time is set for 9:00 p.m.