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RICHMOND, Ky. – Trailing by 10 points with less than five minutes to play, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team used a 17-3 run in the waning minutes of the game to secure a thrilling, come-from-behind 67-65 victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay Thursday night in McBrayer Arena.

After a put-back slam by junior #D’Mitri Riggs# gave EKU (8-6, 2-0 OVC) a 48-47 lead with 7:28 remaining in the game, APSU (3-11, 0-1 OVC) exploded on an 11-0 run to take the game’s first double-digit lead, 58-48, with 5:32 on the clock. A jumper by APSU’s John Fraley made it 60-50 with less than five minutes to play, before the Colonels amped up their defensive pressure and forced four key turnovers down the stretch, two off the hands of sophomore Jeff Johnson, to surge past the Governors late.

EKU tied the game, 63-63, on a jumper in the lane by senior Joshua Jones with 1:13 left, and then took the final lead on a pair of free throws by Jones forty seconds later. Junior Mike DiNunno converted two clutch free throws in the last 30 seconds, which made an Austin Peay put-back at the buzzer meaningless.

Senior Jaron Jones led all players in the game with 19 points, while DiNunno chipped in with 11 tallies. Jones has now scored at least 10 points in 12 straight contests. Nine Colonels scored on a balanced night for EKU.

The Colonels shot just 20 percent (5-of-24) from three-point range and 61 percent (14-of-23) from the free throw line in the game, but forced 17 turnovers, including four in the final three minutes of the game.

TyShwan Edmondson paced APSU with 18 points, while Fraley delivered a double-double with 15 points and 14 boards.

APSU led 6-5 at the first media timeout, but neither team shot well out of the gates, as the Colonels opened 2-of-10 from the field and the Governors were just 3-of-9. A three-point play by Jaron Jones, however, sparked EKU on a 9-2 run, as a driving layup by sophomore Jabs Newby capped the scoring and gave the Colonels a 14-8 lead with 11:47 on the clock.

A three-pointer by Jerome Clayburn brought the Governors back to within three, 19-16, but a three-pointer on the opposite end of the floor by senior Jeff Allgood, then a steal by Allgood and an assist to Jaron Jones on the ensuing fast break quickly made EKU’s lead eight, 24-16, with 2:58 remaining in the first half.

A Josh Terry jumper from the left corner right before halftime cut the Colonels’ lead to five, 29-24.

Edmondson led APSU out of the break, as he drained a three-pointer to open the half and then scored five straight points to tie the game, 34-34, at the 16:34 mark. A Clyburn free throw then gave the Governors their first lead since the first media timeout of the game.

APSU expanded its lead to 41-36, but EKU responded with a 9-4 run, sparked by a three-pointer by freshman Timmy Knipp and capped by a fast break Newby layup that tied the score at 45-all with 11:23 remaining.

EKU returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 31, when the Colonels host Tennessee State on New Year’s Eve at 2 p.m.