Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – EKU held the Atlantic Sun Conference leader in field goal percentage to 39 percent shooting from the field on its way to an 80-71 win at Lipscomb on Thursday in Nashville.
The Bisons (14-8, 6-3 ASUN), the preseason favorite to win the conference championship, entered the game shooting a league best 47 percent for the season. EKU limited preseason all-conference selection Will Pruitt to two points, on 1-of-7 shooting, and four rebounds. He came into the game averaging 12 points and six boards per game.
The Colonels (11-11, 5-4 ASUN) also scored 80 points against the ASUN leader in scoring defense. Lipscomb began the day first in the conference and 40th in the nation allowing just 65.7 points per game.
EKU will be back home to host Austin Peay on Saturday. The game, presented by Metronet, will be Superhero and Local Heroes Day at Baptist Health Arena. Special guests Spider Man and Captain America will hold a meet-and-greet with fans one hour before the start of the game. There will be a rally towel giveaway, sponsored by ServPro. All healthcare workers, military and first responders can receive two FREE tickets and additional discounted tickets.
In addition to the ESPN+ broadcast, Saturday's game will also air live over the air and on area cable systems on WBON-TV, providing coverage from Richmond to West Virginia.
The Colonels led by as many as 13 in the first half, but Lipscomb battled back in the second and took a 51-49 lead with less than 11 minutes to play.
Mayar Wol had the answer for EKU. The sophomore hit a 3-pointer from the left wing and then put in a layup to give his team a 54-51 lead. The Colonels never trailed again.
After Lipscomb closed within two, 59-57, on free throws from Jacob Ognacevic with 6:16 to go, EKU used a 10-3 run to pull away.
Turner Buttry's jumper made it 67-59 at the 4:07 mark. The Colonels went in front by double digits again, 73-62, on a dunk from
Montavious Myrick followed by a steal and layup by
George Kimble III.
Six straight makes at the free throw line sealed the win. Four of which came from Myrick, the final two with 1:09 left put EKU in front by 14, 79-65.
Devontae Blanton led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Buttry finished with 15 points. Kimble added 12 and Wol finished with 11. Myrick scored six points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
EKU out-rebounded Lipscomb 41-39 and out-scored the Bisons in the paint 28-26.
Ognacevic led all players with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Colonels got off to a slow start, hitting just 1-of-11 from the field to begin the contest. As a result, the Bisons jumped out to a 9-2 lead. However, the ball started to find the bottom of the net for EKU as the visitors hit four straight. Blanton's jumper in the paint tied the game at 9-9 and
Jordan Crawford put the Colonels on top 12-11 with a 3-pointer from the right wing to cap a 10-2 run.
EKU was in front by one, 20-19, before going on another run. A 15-3 spurt allowed the Colonels to open a 13-point lead, 35-22. Buttry's 3-pointer made it 26-19. Two free throws from Crawford pushed the margin to 10 for the first time, 30-20. Another jumper in the paint from Blanton capped it with 3:15 to go in the opening period.
Lipscomb out-scored the Colonels 8-2 the rest of the half and trailed by seven, 37-30, at intermission.
A basket to open the second half allowed Lipscomb to get within five. The Bisons closed the gap to two twice before Ognacevic hit a 3-pointer with 11:52 left in the game to get his squad to within one, 49-48. Charlie Williams hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to complete the comeback and put the home team ahead 51-49 with 10:57 to play.
