Box Score
Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. – An 18-5 second half run propelled Eastern Kentucky to a 68-60 win at Kennesaw State and a 2-0 start to the 2013-14 season.

Eastern begins the season with three games in three days at the Kennesaw State Invitational.

The Colonels made just one of their first nine second half shot attempts and were down 34-32 with less than 14 minutes left in the game. However, they knocked down their next eight straight from the field to fuel the run. Corey Walden's second three-pointer during the run and a lay-up by Orlando Williams made it seven straight, capped the run and had Eastern in front by 11, 50-39.

Kennesaw State briefly got as close as four with a minute and a half left in the game but Eastern made 8-of-10 free throw attempts to secure the victory.

Walden finished with a game-high 21 points. He made 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Marcus Lewis finished with an EKU career-best 19 points. The senior connected on 8-of-11 from the field including a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Walden that put a stop to a KSU run that made it a four-point game.

Eastern shot 52 percent in the second half and 45 percent for the game. The visitors were out-rebounded by six, but committed seven fewer turnovers.

The Colonels began the game by making just four of their first 15 shot attempts (27 percent) and trailed 21-13 with less than eight minutes to go in the first half. However, a Glenn Cosey three-pointer at the other end got the offense rolling and began a 17-5 run to end the half. During that time, EKU made 6-of-11 from the field (55 percent).

Another trey by Cosey gave Eastern its first lead, 24-23, with 3:33 on the clock. A steal and lay-up by Lewis capped a run within a run, 10 unanswered points, and put the visitors ahead 26-23. Eastern Kentucky took a 30-26 lead into the locker room at the break.

Cosey finished with 15 points, but made just 3-of-12 shot attempts. He added four rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Delbert Love led the Owls (0-2) with 16 points. Bernard Morena added 13 points and nine rebounds. Kennesaw State made only four of 19 attempts from deep for 21 percent. The Colonels were 7-for-17 for 41 percent.

Eastern concludes play at the Kennesaw State Invitational on Sunday against Youngstown State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Notes
Marcus Lewis has set new EKU career-highs in each of the first two games of the season. The junior college transfer had 15 points last season against Delaware State. He had 16 points on Friday against Florida International before scoring 19 on Saturday against Kennesaw State.

Eastern Kentucky has out-scored its first two opponents by 29 points off turnovers.

As a team, Eastern has had 10 or more steals in each of the first two games, finishing with 10 against Florida International and 11 against Kennesaw State.