Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team defeated West Virginia Tech, 108-72, in the Colonels' season opener on Tuesday at Baptist Health Arena.  
 
It was a widely anticipated debut for Colonel fans as EKU was picked to win the Atlantic Sun Conference this season.  This was many fans' first looks at a team that returned every major contributor from a season ago.  
 
EKU (1-0) scored the first nine points of the game.  By the first media timeout the Colonels racked up 14 and it was smooth sailing the rest of the game.  Tayshawn Comer and Leland Walker got the Colonels moving in transition with no hesitation.  
 
A Devontae Blanton flurry of a two-pointer with his foot on the line and a 3-pointer from the opposite wing forced a WVU Tech timeout with the score already at 21-4.  Central Arkansas transfer guard Collin Cooper subbed in and made an immediate defensive impact on the game, displaying intense hustle and grit.  The senior showed  what an addition he was as he knocked down a three, immediately stole the ball back and fed John Ukomadu for a slam to extend the lead to 15, 29-12.
 
Turner Buttry and Cooper had back-to-back three's find nothing but the bottom of the net in quick succession, pushing the margin to 22 at 35-13.  Those two from long range started a 17-3 run that increased the Colonels' advantage to 30, 46-16.  
 
Golden Bear forward Thomas Hailey established himself in the first half with cuts to the basket for dunks.  He had 11 of West Virginia Tech's first 22 points.  
 
WVT ended the half on an 8-0 run to close the deficit to 52-33.  
 
Despite Isaiah Cozart grabbing nearly every rebound and putting them back in the basket, the Golden Bears kept things interesting by knocking down five 3-pointers in the first eight minutes of the second half to stay within 20 at 71-54. 
 
For a while it looked like the Colonels had grown complacent but they put the intensity right back on after the under-12 timeout and re-took control of the game. 
 
John Ukomadu kept the game entertaining at the rim, shaking the backboard off a Buttry assist and getting plenty of "Oohs" and "Aahs" from the crowd of 2,692 on opening night.  The senior concluded the night with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
  
The Colonels eclipsed the century mark at 3:25 when Pierce Thomas dished a behind-the-back pass to forward Robby Todd, making the score 100-66.  Thomas chipped in two points of his own on the ensuing possession.  A David Onanina transition slam from Thomas and a DaShawn Jackson jumper capped off an electric scoring night for the Colonels and marked an impressive 36 point victory.  
 
Cozart led the way for the Colonels, logging 20 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and two assists.  Cooper shined in his debut, putting up 16 points on 4-of-10 three-point shooting to go with three assists.  Buttry dished out eight assists and last year's leading scorer Blanton added 10 points.  All but one Colonel who entered the game scored.  
 
West Virginia Tech guard Braden Chapman finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists.  The Colonels were largely able to contain Hailey in the second half.  He finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.
 
The Colonels shot 52 percent from the field for the game.  The home squad grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and forced 25 turnovers.  
 
EKU is at home again on Friday night at 7 p.m. to face off against Wilberforce University.
 
A.W. Hamilton press conference statement
"First, let me say our crowd was awesome!  Very appreciative and thankful for that, it was a great crowd.  We had a ton of students; we're picking up where we left off last year with our crowd.  It was amazing!  Proud of Cozy.  He's playing with a ton of confidence.  That's how the CBI was so good for Cozy.  He gained so much confidence and he's had a great offseason.  You look at the stat sheet, he's got 20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 offensive [rebounds], and five blocks.  Cozy was really good.  I was excited for Collin Cooper.  I was excited for our fans to see Collin Cooper.  He brings a lot of life and a lot of energy to the program, so he was really good.  Then I thought Turner Buttry was great.  He had eight assists.  I thought he was tremendous in transition.  He changed sides of the floor.  He made their defense move.  Then, you look at the stat sheet we have 24 offensive rebounds, 26 assists, and 14 steals.  We did some really good things and then there's a lot of things that we got to clean up and clean up fast, but you know that's what these games are for.  This was really good for us."