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ROCK HILL, S.C. – Junior guard Mike DiNunno led a balanced offensive attack as the Eastern Kentucky University men’s defeated host Winthrop Saturday afternoon, 71-59. The Colonels improve to 1-1 on the young season.

DiNunno posted a game-high 20 points on 66.7 percent (6-of-9) shooting from the floor. The guard also added six assists and three steals. Three other Colonels reached double figures in points – sophomore Jeff Johnson (13 points), junior #D’Mitri Riggs# (13) and senior Joshua Jones (10).

Center Matt Morgan led Winthrop (0-1) with 14 points and eight boards in the Eagles’ opener.

Eastern Kentucky trailed through much of the first half before using a 10-2 before intermission to take a 34-30 lead into halftime. Both Johnson and freshman Timmy Knipp hit three-pointers in that stretch to key the EKU surge.

The Colonels never trailed in the final 20 minutes. Eastern quickly extended its cushion to 12 points, 44-32, thanks to another Johnson trifecta. Winthrop made a late charge to get within six points with three minutes left, but Riggs ended a threat with the team’s 12th three-pointer of the contest.

EKU shot 48 percent from the floor in the win, including 60 percent (12-of-20) from inside the arc.

This game was a return game from the 2010 BracketBusters. Eastern Kentucky is now 4-2 against Big South teams under head coach Jeff Neubauer.

The Colonels face another road test this Monday, Nov. 14 at Big South foe Presbyterian College. Game time is set for 7 p.m.