Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky used a late 12-2 run to pull away from in-state rival Morehead State on its way to a 69-57 win in front of a raucous McBrayer Arena crowd on Wednesday.
 
With the win, and Jacksonville State's 72-70 upset of Belmont, EKU (15-9, 7-4 OVC) takes over sole possession of first place in the OVC East.
 
Eastern led for much of the game, but Morehead State (12-15, 7-5 OVC) stayed within striking distance and tied it, 49-49, on a layup by Karam Mashour with 6:29 to play.
 
The Colonels quickly responded with a 12-2 run, highlighted by a dunk in the lane by senior Timmy Knipp and capped by a corner three-pointer from junior Ja'Mill Powell that pushed EKU's lead all the way back to double digits, 61-51, with 2:36 remaining. 
 
Senior Corey Walden went 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to seal the win.
 
Senior Eric Stutz led EKU with 25 points, only two shy of the career-high recorded last Thursday versus Belmont. Walden finished with 15 points, four assists and two steals.
 
EKU shot 51.2 percent (21-of-41) from the field and 85.2 percent (23-of-27) from the stripe to complete the regular season sweep of the Eagles.
 
Mashour paced Morehead State with 16 points and six rebounds.
 
EKU trailed 9-6 early, but consecutive three-pointers by Knipp and Stutz sparked the Colonels on a 12-0 run. A fast-break layup by junior Denzel Richardson capped the spurt and gave Eastern an 18-9 advantage with 11:09 to play in the first half.
 
A thunderous one-handed slam by Richardson gave EKU its largest lead of the first half, 26-14, with 7:06 on the clock.
 
Morehead State used a 9-0 run of its own, though, to make it 26-23 on a tip-in by Billy Reader with just under four minutes to play. The Eagles got to within two, 30-28 on a fast-break layup by Karam Mashour in the waning seconds of the half; however, Stutz buried a jumper at the buzzer on the other end to give EKU a 32-28 advantage at the break.
 
After playing three straight at home, the Colonels step away from McBrayer Arena for one road game on Saturday at Tennessee State University.  The Valentine's Day tilt will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET.
 
NOTES
Corey Walden began the day as the only player in the OVC ranked in the top-10 in scoring (2nd), field goal percentage (8th), assists (7th) and steals (1st).  He finished with 15 points, four assists and two steals.
 
The Colonels have shot 50 percent or better in each of their past three games.
 
In the first meeting of the season between these two teams, Eastern Kentucky held Morehead State to 37 percent shooting and 57 points.  In game two, MSU shot 43 percent and scored 57 points.
 
The first time these two teams played this season, EKU out-scored MSU by nine at the free throw line, finishing 23-of-27.  The Colonels went 23-of-27 again, out-scoring the Eagles by four at the stipe.
 
Morehead State has won five of its last seven games.  It's only two losses during that time have been to Eastern Kentucky.
 
Last season when these two teams played in Richmond on ESPNU, Morehead State's Angelo Warner scored 33 points.  On Wednesday he finished with only 13 on 5-of-12 shooting.
 
Corey Walden now needs 15 more steals to break the EKU career record of 221 held by Jamie Ross (1988-92).
 
Eastern Kentucky entered the game second in the nation in turnover margin (+7.9) and fifth in steals (10.0 spg).  The Colonels had seven fewer turnovers and eight steals.
 
Eastern is now 36-6 in its last 42 home games.
 
EKU leads the all-time series 108-76.  The Colonels are now 59-29 against the Eagles in Richmond.  Eastern has won five of the last six meetings overall.