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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team shot 56 percent from the field and played stifling defense to defeat Eastern Illinois, 67-59, Thursday night in McBrayer Arena. Senior Papa Oppong connected on 4-of-5 (80 percent) three-point shots and led the Colonels with 18 points.

The Colonels (12-6, 5-2 OVC) have now won 17 straight home games dating back to December 2008 and improved to 8-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.

It was also just the third time this season EKU has not been outrebounded, as both teams pulled down 26 boards.

Seniors Josh Taylor and Dayvon Ellis scored 12 and 11 points respectively, while junior Justin Stommes and sophomore Joshua Jones contributed with eight points apiece.

The Panthers’ Tyler Laser led all scorers with 21 points on 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) shooting from deep. Romain Martin chipped in with eight points off the bench.

With EKU trailing 12-10 midway through the first half, junior Josh Daniel drained a three-pointer from the corner to spark a 14-0 Colonel run. A slashing layup by Ellis capped the run to give EKU a 24-12 lead.

EIU (10-7, 4-3 OVC) pulled to within eight, 24-16, following a free throw by Jeremy Granger; however, consecutive corner threes by Oppong and Taylor initiated another Colonel burst, this one highlighted by a smooth crossover and jump shot by Oppong that stretched the EKU lead to 34-18 with 2:25 showing on the clock.

A tip-in by EIU’s Matt Dorlack with two seconds remaining in the half made the intermission score 37-24 in favor of the Colonels.

Oppong led the Colonels at the break with 10 points while Taylor contributed with eight points. Eastern Illinois’ Laser led all players with 13 points at halftime.

The Colonel lead hovered around 14 for most of the second half before a jumper by Ousmane Cisse pulled EIU to within 11, 57-46, with 7:14 left. An Ellis three-pointer and a dunk from junior Spencer Perrin, however, made it 62-48 in favor of EKU with less than six minutes to play.

The Panthers made a trio of three-pointers in the final minute to close the gap from 15 to eight points, but it was too little too late for the visitors.

The Colonels are right back in action Saturday, Jan. 16, when they host Southeast Missouri at 7 p.m.