Click here for official box score!

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Josh Taylor and junior Josh Daniel combined for 35 points as the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team cruised to a 79-63 win over Southeast Missouri Saturday night in McBrayer Arena. With the win, which was the 18th straight at home dating back to December 2008, the Colonels (13-6, 6-2 OVC) established a new McBrayer Arena home court winning streak record.

Taylor scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half as the forward finished 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from behind the arc. Daniel came off the bench to post a career-high 16 points thanks to shooting 6-of-7 (85.7 percent) from the field. Meanwhile, junior Justin Stommes chipped in with a personal-high eight assists.

For the third straight game, Eastern Kentucky shot at least 50 percent from the field. The Colonels netted 55.6 percent (30-of-54) of their field goal attempts with eight different players making at least two buckets.

Derek Thompson led SEMO (5-12, 2-5) with 19 points while Sam Pearson added 12 tallies.

The Colonels never trailed as they exploded out of the gates behind three straight three-pointers from Taylor and fellow senior Papa Oppong for a 9-0 lead just a minute and a half into the game.

SEMO rallied behind impeccable three-point shooting of its own and pulled to within one, 25-24, when Marland Smith rattled home a three with 9:38 left in the first half.

The Redhawks got within one numerous times over the next five minutes, but never took the lead. Taylor then delivered a big three-pointer from the top of the key and Daniel recorded seven straight points to give the Colonels their first double digit lead of the game, 44-33, with 1:49 showing on the clock.

Another Taylor three with just under 30 seconds left in the half sent EKU into the locker room up 47-33.

A jumper by Southeast Missouri’s LaQuentin Miles followed by another quick three-pointer by Smith brought the Redhawks back to within eight, 52-44, with 14 minutes remaining in the game.

However, Daniel came off the bench again and provided EKU with another spark, this time draining a step-back three pointer, slashing to the hole for two and then picking off an errant SEMO pass and scoring on a fast break layup to push the Colonel lead to 19, 67-48, with under 10 minutes left in the half.

Eastern eventually stretched its lead to 23 points and was never seriously challenged by Southeast Missouri the rest of the way.

The Colonels step out of conference play Tuesday night, Jan. 19, to host Chicago State. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.