Click here for official box score!

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Josh Taylor paced the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team with a game-high 20 points and the Colonels shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the 77-57 victory over non-conference foe Winthrop Saturday night in McBrayer Arena.

With the win, Eastern (19-10) snapped Winthrop’s (15-11) seven game winning streak.

Taylor became the 29th Colonel to reach 1,000 career points when he drained his fifth three-pointer of the night with 2:11 remaining. The native of Pittsburgh, Pa., now sits with 1,003 career points. The forward also led EKU with six rebounds against Big South member Winthrop.

Junior Justin Stommes (15 points), senior Papa Oppong (14) and senior Dayvon Ellis (14) reached double figures as well for the Colonels.

Matt Morgan scored 18 points for Winthrop while Reggie Middleton added 10 points and five assists.

Eastern Kentucky never trailed as the Colonels came out on fire, netting eight of the first nine field goal attempts, for an early 21-9 lead. The advantage ballooned to 15 points, 30-15, following sophomore Joshua Jones’ trifecta with 8:13 left in the first half.

The Eagles responded by closing the half with a 15-6 spurt to bring the deficit back to six points, 36-30.

Eastern Kentucky shot 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the field in the first half, but also committed 10 turnovers.

Winthrop twice closed the gap to four points early in the second stanza only to see EKU regroup with a 14-2 run to take control of the game. A Taylor three-pointer with 13:11 showing on the clock capped the surge to give the Colonels a 54-37 cushion.

The Eagles never seriously challenged the rest of the way.

Eastern Kentucky improved to 11-0 when shooting at least 50 percent from the field. This was the first time in six games the Colonels finished shooting above the 50 percent mark.

This game was brought about by the ESPN BracketBusters series. As part of the agreement, Eastern Kentucky will return the trip to Winthrop within the next two seasons.

The Colonels conclude the regular season next weekend with a pair of home OVC games. First up is UT Martin on Thursday, Feb. 25. That game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m.