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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team shot 61.4 percent from the floor to outlast visiting Tennessee State Saturday night in McBrayer Arena, 86-72. With the win, the Colonels (12-10, 6-5 OVC) finished the month of January 7-2 overall.

Seniors Spencer Perrin and Justin Stommes each tallied 22 points in the winning effort, marking a career high for Perrin and a season best for Stommes. Fellow senior Josh Daniel chipped in with 19 points thanks in part to netting all eight free throw attempts.

For Tennessee State (10-11, 7-4), Kenny Moore led all players with a career-high 25 points and seven rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky began the contest on fire, converting eight of its first nine field goal attempts to establish a 21-9 cushion six minutes into the game. The Tigers slowly cut into the deficit and used six straight points from Moore at the end of the half to close within two points, 36-34.

Tennessee State finally took its first lead with 14:14 left, 47-45, following a pair of Jacquan Nobles free throws. Three ties and five lead changes took place over the ensuing four minutes before EKU grabbed the lead for good.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Daniel and junior Joshua Jones with six minutes remaining broke open a close game and gave the Colonels a seven-point edge, 70-63.

The Tigers made one more charge to close to within four points, 72-68, but would get no closer the rest of the way. Eastern netted 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) free throws down the stretch to pull away from Tennessee State.

In the first meeting between the two teams, Tennessee State held EKU to a season-low 49 points. The Colonels scored 50 points in the second half alone tonight behind 68.4 percent (13-of-19) shooting from the floor.

Eastern Kentucky now hits the road for a pair of OVC games next weekend at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 3) and Jacksonville State (Feb. 5).