Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – Eastern Kentucky University took the lead early and rolled to an 86-66 victory at Chicago State on Tuesday.
 
EKU (3-1) grabbed the lead for good, 11-9, on a layup from Mayar Wol with 15:40 to go in the first half.  The Colonels doubled their advantage from five to 10, 24-14, on a 3-pointer from Tyler Andrews followed by a jumper from Devontae Blanton with 12:34 left in the opening period.
 
Blanton finished with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal.
 
Nine straight by the visitors pushed the margin to 19.  Jackson Holt got the run started with a 3-pointer and a layup off a steal from Yvens Paul.  Wol's layup at the 6:34 mark capped it for a 37-18 edge.  A 3-pointer by Chicago State in the final minute of the first half sent the home team to the locker room down by 13, 47-34.
 
Holt led EKU with 15 points off the bench.  He also had four assists.  Wol scored 13 on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and pulled down six rebounds.  Paul contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
 
The Colonels scored eight of the first 10 to start the second half to go back on top by 19.  Blanton's layup made it 55-36 with 17:54 to play.  Three-pointers from George Kimble III and Wol extended it to a 25-point game, 63-38, with 15:42 remaining.
 
Kimble handed out nine assists and did not make a turnover.  The sophomore scored eight and pulled down four rebounds. 
 
EKU took its largest lead of 30 when Jordan Crawford nailed a 3-pointer to make it 80-50 with 7:36 left in the game.
 
The Colonels shot over 50 percent for much of the game before finishing 35-for-75 for 47 percent.  EKU out-rebounded the Cougars 50-35 and limited CSU to six offensive rebounds.  The maroon and white had a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint and a 17-6 edge in second-chance points.
 
Gabe Spinelli had a team-best 15 points for Chicago State (0-5).  The Cougars were limited to 39 percent shooting from the field.
 
EKU will play three games in the Gulf Coast Showcase starting Monday against Ball State at noon ET.  The Colonels will also face Southern Illinois and Louisiana Tech at the event in Estero, Florida.