Box Score (pdf)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University put on a defensive clinic – forcing 26 steals – in a 122-67 victory over Indiana University East on Saturday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
The Colonels and Red Wolves traded baskets early, opening the game tied 4-4.  EKU then responded with a 12-2 run to take control.  Austin Ball sparked the surge with a layup and followed with a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 9-4.  Jackson Holt added a right-wing triple to stretch the lead to 10, 16-6, with 14:46 left in the first half.
 
Out of a timeout, the Red Wolves countered with back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the margin to 16-12. Ball answered by scoring six straight points, extending the lead to 27-20.
 
EKU followed with another burst, this time a 12-0 run.  After an offensive rebound by Montavious Myrick, Turner Buttry buried a right-wing 3-pointer to make it 34-22.  On the next possession, Ball jumped an inbound pass, setting up Juan Cranford Jr.'s and-one layup that pushed the advantage to 37-22.
 
Redshirt freshman Jayden Harris added a late-first-half spark, scoring six straight points.  He knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner and then threw down a dunk in the lane to give EKU a 45-26 lead.  Cranford's putback following a Myrick steal stretched the margin to 21 as the Colonels took a 52-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Colonels (2-7) shot 46% in the opening period and hit six 3-pointers.  EKU's defensive pressure produced 15 steals, leading to 28 points off turnovers.
 
A 17-4 run early in the second half pushed the Colonels' lead to 71-35, capped by a Harris 3-pointer from the left wing.  EKU's defense continued to swarm the Red Wolves, forcing 11 more steals after halftime.  A Myrick layup following another takeaway capped a 16-2 run that extended the lead to 91-41 with 11:07 to go.
 
A deep 3-pointer from Mason Miles with 48 seconds remaining gave the Colonels their largest lead of the night at 57 points, 120-63.
Ball led EKU with 20 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals, and two 3-pointers.  Cranford added 18 points, on 3-of-6 shooting from deep, and collected five steals.
 
Myrick filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks.  Harris recorded a career-high 16 points with seven rebounds and five steals.
 
EKU shot 49% from the field and 36% (16-of-44) from 3-point range for the game.
 
Mikey Johnson had a team-best 14 points for IU East.
 
The Colonels hit the road to Charleston, Illinois to face Eastern Illinois on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.