Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky erased a 13-point deficit but couldn't hold off Tennessee-Martin in a 78-70 loss on Thursday at McBrayer Arena.
 
EKU (10-7, 1-1 OVC) trailed by 13 in the final minute of the first half and by 12 early in the second half, but tightened up on the defensive end and used a 20-7 second half run to take the lead.  During their run, the Colonels held the Skyhawks (9-7, 1-0 OVC) scoreless for two long stretches.
 
After UTM went in front by 11, 50-39, the visitors went 5:25 without scoring and Eastern drew within five.  A free throw by junior JaVontae Hawkins, a lay-up from senior Jarelle Reischel and a three-pointer from the right wing by senior Ja'Mill Powell got the run started and made it a 50-45 game with 11:33 left to play.
 
Junior Isaac McGlone's three-pointer from the left wing in transition got the home team within four, 54-50.  UT Martin went back in front by seven before suffering another long drought.  This time, EKU held the Skyhawks scoreless for 3:03.  Nine unanswered, including another three-pointer from McGlone, gave Eastern its first lead.  Hawkins put his team up 59-57 and capped the 20-7 run with 6:41 left.
 
However, UTM scored five straight to go back on top by three and never trailed again.
 
Reischel led all players with 22 points and tied for the game high with seven rebounds.  He entered the game as the only player in the nation to have scored 300 points, grab 100 rebounds and hand out 50 assists.
 
Hawkins had 17 points and seven rebounds.  McGlone contributed a season-high 13 points. 
 
Jacolby Mobley had a team-best 18 points for UT Martin, but scored only two points in the second half.  Twymond Howard added 16 points.  Myles Taylor finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Skyhawks shot 58 percent from the field and 47 percent from long range.  EKU made 41 percent of its shots, but went 7-of-31 from behind the arc for 23 percent.
 
Mobley fueled a 19-7 first half run that gave control to the Skyhawks.  With the game tied, 20-20, Mobley hit a pair of three-pointers to get the run started.  A trey by Howard followed by a lay-up and three-pointer from Mobley finished the run and gave the visitors a 12-point advantage, 39-27, with 2:27 left in the opening half.
 
Mobley accounted for 11 of UTM's 19 points during its run.  He had 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the first half.  A three from McGlone allowed Eastern to go into the locker room at the break down 10, 42-32.
 
As a team, UT Martin shot 60 percent from the field in the first half, including knocking down 7-of-10 from behind the arc.
 
The Colonels will be back in action on Saturday when they host Southeast Missouri at McBrayer Arena.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.