Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – A 16-3 run early in the second half, including 3-pointers on three straight possessions, fueled EKU's 81-77 victory over first place Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
EKU scored the first basket of the second half to tie the game, but FGCU (11-10, 6-2 ASUN) scored the next five before the Colonels started their big run.  Turner Buttry got it going with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.  EKU trailed by two before hitting a 3-pointer on three straight possessions.
 
George Kimble III hit the first to give the Colonels a 47-46 lead.  The next two came off steals by the Colonels.  Buttry hit another, this time from the left corner.  Mayar Wol's triple from the right corner gave his team a 53-46 lead with 15:17 left in the game.  Devontae Blanton's 17-foot jumper capped the run and made it an 8-point lead, 55-47, with 14:34 on the clock.
 
Wol finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.  He hit 3-of-6 from 3-point range.  Kimble also had 18 points to go along with five assists and four steals.
 
The Eagles closed to within three, 62-59, on a 3-pointer from Jevin Muniz with 10:16 to go.  FGCU then cut a 9-point deficit to just two with a run of seven straight capped by a Rahmir Barno layup with 6:03 left to play.
 
FGCU got within two on four more occasions, but the Colonels answered each time.  After the Eagles made it 75-73, Wol nailed a triple from the left corner with just over a minute remaining.  Dallion Johnson hit two free throws with 17.1 seconds left to make it 79-77, the final time the visitors got within two.  Kimble answered on the other end with two free throws to seal the victory.
 
Muniz led Florida Gulf Coast with 18 points, hitting 4-of-5 from deep and dishing out seven assists.
 
Buttry contributed 10 points for the Colonels (10-11, 4-4 ASUN).
 
FGCU shot 52 percent from the field for the game and 50 percent (9-of-18) from 3-point range.  However, EKU out-rebounded the Eagles by nine and turned 14 offensive rebounds into an 18-4 edge in second-chance points.
 
After playing three straight at home, the Colonels will take to the road to face Lipscomb on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.