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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Senior
Jaron Jones poured in a career-high 17 points, but it was not enough as the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team was defeated by Lehigh, 76-51, Sunday afternoon at the Vines Center in the Colonels’ final game of the Lynchburg Subregional 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.
Jaron Jones was named to the Lynchburg Subregional All-Tournament team following the game. The Lexington, Ky. native averaged 14 points-per-game as EKU (3-3) went 2-1 during the three-day event with wins over Liberty and William and Mary.
Senior
Joshua Jones tallied 13 points in the loss, while sophomore
Jeff Johnson came off the bench to again lead the Colonels in rebounds (7) and assists (3).
Lehigh (4-2) featured the top returning scorer in the country in junior guard C.J. McCollum. EKU was able to hold McCollum in check, limiting him to just 10 points, but the Mountain Hawks used a balanced scoring attack to subdue the Colonels. Holden Greiner led four Lehigh players in double-digits with 13 points, and he also grabbed a team-high six boards.
EKU never led in the game. The Colonels faced their largest deficit of the first half, 31-19, when Jordan Hamilton connected on a triple from the corner with 3:09 on the clock, but they scored the last four points of the half on free throws by Joshua Jones and fellow senior
Jeff Allgood to go into the locker room at the break down by only seven, 31-23.
Junior
Mike DiNunno slashed the lead to five, 31-26, when he buried a three-pointer from the top of the key in the Colonels’ first possession of the second half; however, Lehigh then reeled off seven straight points to go ahead by 12, 38-26, and the Colonels would never get within 10 points of the Mountain Hawks the rest of the way.
EKU returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 27, when the Colonels to travel back to Virginia to face Norfolk State. Tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.