Box Score

BEREA, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University began its 2024-25 season with a 98-69 victory over Alice Lloyd College on Monday at the Seabury Center in Berea, Kentucky.
 
Newcomer George Kimble III finished with 23 points, seven assists, two steals and two rebounds for the Colonels (1-0).  He hit 8-of-13 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free throw line.  Turner Buttry added 12 points and four assists.
 
After Landon Napier hit a 3-pointer to pull Alice Lloyd within three early, 12-9, the Colonels went on a 17-1 run.  EKU held the Eagles without a field goal for more than four minutes.  Buttry's 3-pointer from the right wing put his squad up 21-9.  Jordan Crawford's three capped the run and made it 29-10 with less than 12 minutes to go in the opening half.
 
Alice Lloyd closed the gap to five, 34-29, on another Napier 3-pointer with 6:29 on the clock, but the Colonels answered with another run.  A 13-1 spurt stretched the margin back to 17.  Yvens Paul scored on a lay-up and a dunk.  Buttry made it 47-30 with a lay-up.  EKU went up 20, 53-33, on another Crawford 3-pointer.  The maroon and white led 55-39 at the break.
 
EKU forced 16 turnovers in the first half and out-scored the Eagles 23-6 off turnovers.  The Colonels turned 14 first half offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points.
 
Kimble scored the first four points of the second half to push the lead back to 20, 59-39.  Alice Lloyd never got closer than 16.  Jackson Holt's 3-pointer with 10:11 left in the game put the Colonels ahead by 21, 77-56, and they led by 20-plus the rest of the game.
 
The margin hit 30 for the first time when DJ Nussbaum connected on a baseline lay-up for a 95-65 lead.
 
Crawford totaled 12 points off the bench, hitting 5-of-10 from the field.  Devontae Blanton had eight points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.  The senior moved into a tie for 10th place on the program's career scoring list with 1,518 points.
 
EKU forced 29 turnovers in the game and out-scored the Eagles 38-14 off turnovers.  The Colonels out-rebounded ALC 56-34, pulling down 29 rebounds off the offensive glass.
 
Ben Soumahoro had a team-best 16 points for the Eagles.  He hit on 6-of-12 from the field.
 
EKU will play four games in November and December at the Seabury Center on the campus of Berea College while construction continues on the renovation of Baptist Health Arena.  The first phase of the Baptist Health Arena renovation will be completed prior to the first Atlantic Sun Conference home game on Jan. 9.
 
The Colonels will return to action Friday at East Tennessee.  Tipoff in Johnson City, Tennessee is scheduled for 7 p.m.