Box Score

BEREA, Ky. – EKU scored the first seven points and 12 of the first 13 in a 122-60 victory over Midway University on Thursday at the Seabury Center in Berea, Kentucky.
 
The Colonels will play their first game of the season in Baptist Health Arena on Monday against in-state rival Western Kentucky.
 
Fans can purchase season tickets or single game tickets online at EKUSports.com, or contact the EKU Ticket Office at 859-622-2122 or via email at tickets@eku.edu.
 
Newcomer Juan Cranford Jr. hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start the game.  Jalen Cooper's putback dunk made it 7-0.  Cranford's triple from the right wing pushed the margin to 12-1 as the Colonels started 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-3 from behind the arc.
 
A 15-0 run by EKU put the game out of reach early.  Freshman MJ Williams started it with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.  Cranford's layup gave the Colonels a 20-point lead, 26-6.  Austin Ball's 3-pointer from the left corner capped the run and had his squad ahead 32-6.
 
Jalen Cooper's dunk with 5:02 to go in the first half extended the lead to 35, 47-12.  Montavious Myrick's jumper and a free throw from Yvens Paul pushed the margin to 40-plus at 57-16.  Turner Buttry scored the final three points of the half on a putback and a free throw.  EKU led by 42 at the break, 60-18.
 
The Colonels shot 51% from the field in the first half and hit 9-of-20 from behind the arc.  The Eagles shot just 24% and were 2-for-14 from deep.  EKU grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and turned those into a 26-2 advantage in second-chance points.
 
A 9-0 run to start the second half put the Colonels on top 69-18.  Cranford capped it with a 3-pointer from the right wing. 
 
EKU went up by 54, 76-22 with 15:48 left to play, when Buttry hit two free throws.  Three free throws from Jayden Harris with 48 seconds left in the game gave the Colonels their largest lead of 65 points, 122-57.
 
Cooper contributed 21 points, five rebounds and two steals.  MJ Williams had 14 points, hit four 3-pointers, dished out six assists, made four steals and had only one turnover.
 
Myrick finished with a career-high 16 points, hitting 5-of-7 from the field and 6-of-10 at the free throw line.  He also had six rebounds, one block, one assist and one steal.
 
Ball set career-highs with 13 points and 13 rebounds.  He also had four steals and two assists.
 
The Colonels shot 49% from the field for the game.  EKU went 17-for-41 from 3-point range for 41%.  The Colonels out-rebounded Midway 51-30 and turned 22 offensive rebounds into 37 second-chance points.
 
The Eagles shot 38% from the floor for the game, finishing 7-for-25 (28%) from 3-point range.