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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team broke open a close game by scoring the first 14 points of the second half on the way to an 81-67 victory over FIU Saturday night in McBrayer Arena. The Colonels improve to 5-1 overall while the Panthers fall to 2-6.

Senior Papa Oppong led all players with a career-high 21 points. The guard netted 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) three-pointers while also chipping in with six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Four other Colonels finished in double figures including junior Justin Stommes with 15 points and six assists.

FIU’s Marvin Roberts paced the Panthers with 19 points. J.C. Otero came off the bench to record his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The visiting Panthers held the lead for most of the first half and built a seven-point advantage, 24-17, following a Marlon Bright tip-in with 6:33 showing on the clock. Eastern Kentucky battled back to go on top late in the half, 29-28, thanks to two free throws from junior Spencer Perrin. However, a tip-in from Otero right before intermission gave FIU a slim 32-31 lead at the break.

FIU capitalized on 11 offensive rebounds in the first 20 minutes of action to outscore the Colonels, 12-0, on second chance points.

Eastern Kentucky quickly turned the game around in the second stanza. The Colonels netted their first three shots, three-pointers from Oppong and senior Josh Taylor as well as a Stommes jumper, to make the score 39-32. Stommes then capped the 14-0 run three minutes later with a dunk to put EKU ahead, 45-32, with 15:44 remaining.

FIU made one last push with five minutes left after a Roberts three-point play cut the deficit to five, 62-57. Stommes responded on Eastern’s next possession with a three-point play of his own to stretch the Colonel advantage back to eight. A Taylor lay-in and Oppong trifecta then put the Colonels back up by 13 points, 70-57, and ended any thoughts of a Panther win.

The Colonels scored 50 points in the second half thanks to shooting 63.6 percent (21-of-33) from the field and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from behind the arc.

Eastern Kentucky now has a few days off before opening OVC action on Thursday, Dec. 3 at Murray State. That game will be televised by ESPNU beginning at 7 p.m. ET.