Box Score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team went back-and-forth with host Northern Kentucky on Sunday night at BB&T Arena; however, the Norse pulled away late for a 76-57 victory.
 
The Colonels (3-6) built an early 12-point advantage, but NKU (7-3) rallied to tie it at the break, 35-35. The game stayed close throughout the second half, until the Norse went on a late 14-0 run to secure the victory.
 
Ty Taylor had a team-high 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting for EKU.  The Colonels shot 38 percent for the game and were out-rebounded by 17.
 
The Norse made 58 percent of their shots from the field, and were led by Trevon Faulkner and Dantez Walton with 18 points each.  Walton also had nine rebounds.
 
The Colonels got off to a quick start, taking a 10-4 lead on a 3-pointer from the top of the key by JacQuess Hobbs.  A quick spurt of eight points in less than a minute midway through the first half put EKU in front by 12.  Russhard Cruickshank hit a 3-pointer and Houston King put in a lay-up four seconds later.  Cruickshank hit another three, with 11:32 remaining in the first half, to put the visitors ahead 21-9.
 
The Norse however held Eastern scoreless for over six minutes while going on a 15-0 run to turn a 12-point deficit into a 3-point lead, 24-21.  The teams then exchanged a pair of runs before ending the half tied 35-35.
 
EKU broke the tie on Jomaru Brown's 3-pointer to start the second half.  A 3-pointer by Lachlan Anderson  got Eastern within one, 49-48, with 12:33 left in the game.  A lay-up from Michael Moreno with 5:46 on the clock made it a 4-point game, 58-54, in favor of the Norse.  However, the Colonels went the next four minutes without scoring and Northern Kentucky raced out to a 75-54 advantage by the time Darius Hicks hit a free throw with 1:46 left to play.
 
EKU's next game will be Saturday at No. 1 ranked Louisville.  Tip-off at the KFC Yum Center is scheduled for noon.