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CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Host Western Carolina built an 18-point first half lead before holding off the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team Saturday afternoon, 81-74. Senior Justin Stommes paced EKU (15-13) with a season-best 24 points.

Eastern’s only lead of the game came after senior Josh Daniel’s three-pointer put the Colonels ahead, 3-2. The Catamounts scored the next 10 points, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Mike Williams and Brandon Boggs, to quickly establish a 12-3 cushion.

Later in the half, Western Carolina strung together a 13-2 run to stretch the lead to 18 points, 27-9. From there, EKU finally got the offense on track and rattled off nine straight points, highlighted by freshman Jeff Johnson’s trifecta, to hang around at 27-18.

The Colonels, who had averaged just eight turnovers a game the last four contests, turned the ball over nine times alone in the first 20 minutes. WCU capitalized with 14 points off those turnovers and took a 39-26 lead into intermission.

Western Carolina pushed the lead back to 16 points twice in the second half, but the Colonels would not fold.

Four straight points from Stommes slashed the Catamount advantage to eight points, 65-57, with 5:47 left. A Daniel steal and break-away lay-up then allowed Eastern to close the gap to five, 70-65, with 3:30 showing on the clock.

Two missed free throws from junior Joshua Jones kept EKU from inching to within three points with 1:06 left. The Catamounts then sealed the win by netting four straight free throws in the final minute.

Stommes scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half. Fellow senior Spencer Perrin tallied his third double-double of the year with 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

Four Western Carolina players finished in double figures led by Williams’ 18 tallies and five assists. Boggs chipped in with 16 points including a key three-pointer after EKU cut the deficit to five points with three minutes remaining.

This was the first meeting between the schools since 1970. EKU is now 2-1 against the Catamounts.

WCU has now won six straight games overall and 12 consecutive home contests dating back to last year.

Eastern Kentucky concludes the regular season next week with OVC road games at UT Martin (Feb. 24) and Murray State (Feb. 26).