Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Eastern Kentucky University overcame a 13-point second half deficit to force overtime, and then out-scored Cleveland State 17-1 in the extra frame on its way to a 91-75 victory in the first round of the 2023 Discount Tire College Basketball Invitational.
 
No. 8 seed EKU (21-13) will face No. 1 seed Indiana State (23-12) in the Discount Tire CBI quarterfinals on Monday at 12 p.m. ET.  The game will air live on FloHoops.  The live radio broadcast of the game is available in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, or worldwide on EKUSports.com.
 
Richmond native Isaiah Cozart finished with a career-high 20 points and a career-best 17 rebounds to go along with five blocks for the Colonels.  Devontae Blanton scored a game-best 22 points.
 
A jumper from Jayson Woodrich with 10:29 left in regulation gave No. 9 seed Cleveland State its largest lead of the game at 13 points, 56-43. 
 
EKU slowly climbed back.  Back-to-back 3-pointers from Michael Moreno cut the deficit to seven right away, 56-49.  Moreno finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
Leland Walker's old-fashioned 3-point play with just 6:06 showing on the clock got the Colonels within six, 64-58.  EKU closed to within five twice before a 3-pointer from the right wing by Tayshawn Comer made it a four-point game, 70-66, with 3:02 to play.  Still down by four with 2:11 remaining, Moreno connected from long range to make it a one-point game.
 
Cozart hit a free throw and Moreno put back a miss to cap an 8-0 run that completed the comeback and had the Colonels in front by two, 74-72, with 30 seconds to go in regulation.
 
Tae Williams put in a lay-up for the Vikings with 20.8 seconds left to tie the game.  Neither team scored again in regulation.
 
Comer's dunk to start the extra period broke the tie and EKU never trailed again.  Cleveland State's only point came on a free throw from Drew Lowder with 4:13 to play in overtime.  The Colonels scored the final 15 points of the game.
 
Williams finished with a team-high 15 points for the Vikings.
 
EKU shot 49 percent from the field for the game and out-rebounded Cleveland State 50-29.  The Colonels pulled 20 boards off the offensive glass.  CSU hit on 43 percent of its shots, but went 4-of-18 from long range for 22 percent.