Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Senior Jarelle Reischel recorded his first double-double as a Colonel, but the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team fell at UNC Wilmington, 78-59, on Monday night at Trask Coliseum.
 
Reischel paced the Colonels with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Redshirt junior JaVontae Hawkins contributed 16 points and five boards, while freshman Nick Mayo scored 12 points, all in the second half.
 
EKU (1-1) shot just 33.3 percent (17-of-51) from the field in the loss.
 
Craig Ponder led the way for the host Seahawks, scoring 24 points, dishing out four assists and coming up with three steals. Dylan Sherwood just missed a double-double for UNCW, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
 
The Seahawks distributed 16 assists on the night. The Colonels notched only five.
 
Although UNCW (2-0) led from start-to-finish, EKU stayed within striking distance most of the night. After the Seahawks ran out to an early 13-4 lead, the Colonels clawed back to within four, 19-15, thanks to a three-point play by Hawkins with 7:13 remaining in the first half.
 
UNCW led by 11 at halftime, and used a 7-2 run to go up 45-29 just over a minute into the second half; however, Eastern kept fighting back. Mayo – who was held scoreless in the first half – scored six consecutive points, two of which came on a thunderous one-handed dunk on the baseline, to keep the Colonels alive.
 
A layup by Mayo with 14:56 on the clock cut EKU's deficit to seven, 47-40. It was as close as the Colonels had been since late in the first half and it was as close as they would get the rest of the way.
 
The Seahawks responded with an 8-0 run to take a 55-40 advantage, and they led by double figures the rest of the way.
 
EKU returns to action this weekend as the Colonels host Ball State, South Carolina State and Longwood in the @EKUHoops Classic at McBrayer Arena.