Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. – Eastern Kentucky took a late lead but couldn't hold off Kennesaw State in an 82-73 loss in the opening round of the ASUN Conference Tournament on Tuesday.
 
The lead changed hands for the 12th time in the second half when Jomaru Brown knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing, putting the Colonels on top 68-66 with 4:50 to go.  The lead changed for the 13th and final time 32 seconds later when Terrell Burden's lay-up put the Owls ahead 70-68.
 
EKU went 2:28 without scoring after Brown's triple.  By the time the senior put in two free throws with 2:22 on the clock, his team trailed by five, 75-70.  A 3-pointer from Spencer Rodgers at the other end secured it for KSU.
 
Devontae Blanton scored a game-best 23 points for Eastern Kentucky and pulled down eight rebounds.  Brown finished with 22 points.
 
Rodgers led Kennesaw State with 22 points.  Burden had 15 points, eight assists, four steals and four rebounds.
 
The Colonels made 39 percent of their shots from the field.  The Owls shot 68 percent in the second half and 51 percent for the game.
 
KSU scored the first three points of the game, but the Colonels scored the next 13.  Blanton scored five of the 13.  A 3-pointer and free throw from Curt Lewis capped the early run and put the visitors ahead by 10, 13-3. 
 
A 3-pointer from the left corner by Brown stretched the margin to 12, 27-15.  Russhard Cruickshank's trey with 3:48 left in the half made it a 14-point game, 32-18.  However, Eastern Kentucky didn't score again and the Owls ended the period on a 7-0 run.  Burden's lay-up with four seconds on the clock set the halftime score at 32-25.
 
Kennesaw State scored the first 10 points of the second half to extend the run to 17-0 and complete the comeback.  Rodgers hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 33-32 in favor of the home team.  A dunk by Demond Robinson with 17:12 on the clock polished off the run and put KSU in front by three, 35-32.
 
From that point the game remained close, with 12 more lead changes.