Box Score (PDF)

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Despite another career day from freshman Nick Mayo, five unanswered points by host SIUE in the final 70 seconds doomed the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team in a 67-65 loss on Saturday at the Vadalabene Center.
 
Mayo posted a new career high for the second straight game, finishing with 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. He added three rebounds and two blocks. Mayo is now averaging 17.6 points-per-game in OVC play.
 
SIUE held a 62-60 lead, before sophomore Paul Jackson found Mayo at the top of the key. Mayo netted a three-pointer to give the Colonels a one-point advantage with 3:43 remaining.
 
On the ensuing SIUE possession, Jackson came away with one of his three steals in the game and drew a foul. He calmly knocked down both free throws, extending the EKU lead to 65-62 with 3:00 remaining.
 
A jumper from C.J. Carr closed the Colonels' lead to 65-64 at the 1:10 mark.
 
Eastern failed to convert on its next field goal attempt, as SIUE regained possession trailing by one. With 18 seconds on the clock, Burak Eslik drew a foul from behind the arc and connected on all three foul shots to give the Cougars a 67-65 advantage.
 
Junior Jaylen Babb-Harrison missed a potential game-winning three-pointer on EKU's next possession. After the Colonels forced a turnover on the ensuing SIUE inbounds play, senior Jarelle Reischel missed a final game-winning three-point attempt at the buzzer.
 
Reischel finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. Jackson added eight points and a game-best seven assists.
 
Elsik led the Cougars with 21 points. Carlos Anderson contributed 18 points and nine rebounds.
 
EKU shot better than SIUE (40 percent from the field) in the loss, connecting on 44 percent (20-of-45) of its shots from the field. However, the Colonels made only three three-pointers in the game, matching a season low.
 
SIUE out-rebounded EKU, 40-26. The Cougars pulled down 19 offensive rebounds.
 
The Colonels (11-9, 2-3 OVC) erased a six-point second half deficit. EKU scored on three straight possessions to cut the SIUE lead to two, 53-51, as Reischel knocked down Eastern's first three-pointer of the contest with a timely long ball from the right wing with 9:01 to play.
 
On the Colonels' next possession, junior Isaac McGlone followed suit with another trey which gave EKU a 54-53 lead – its first of the second half – with 7:52 left. 
 
Despite shooting 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field in the opening half, the Colonels clung to a one-point lead at the break, 32-21.
 
The Colonel defense held the Cougars to a mere 30 percent shooting in the first half, but the Cougars' 12 offensive rebounds led to 10 points.
 
Mayo got off to a fast start, scoring nine of Eastern's first 11 points. The Colonels opened with a 6-0 run to take an 11-5 lead, holding the Cougars scoreless for a span of 5:51.
 
EKU returns home to host Jacksonville State on Thursday, January 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.