Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University out-rebounded North Alabama by 11 and out-scored the visitors by eight in the paint in an 88-80 victory on Thursday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
The Colonels fell behind by four, 59-55, on an old-fashioned 3-point play from Donte Bacchus with 11:45 left in the game.  EKU responded by scoring the next seven points to key a 15-4 run.  Austin Ball started it with a 3-pointer and then after UNA turned the ball over on its inbound pass, Ball converted a layup for a 60-59 lead.  EKU led the rest of the way.  Yvens Paul and two baskets during the run.  Two free throws from Turner Buttry capped it and handed his squad a 70-63 lead with 7:25 left to play.
 
North Alabama (5-9, 0-3 ASUN) scored four straight and closed the gap to three, 70-67, on two free throws from Canin Jefferson at the 6:34 mark.  The Lions never got any closer.
 
Buttry answered by sinking a 3-pointer from the right wing to push the margin back to six.  The senior guard finished with a team-best 19 points and five assists.  He went 3-for-6 from behind the arc and 8-for-8 at the free throw line.
 
EKU led by 10 on five occasions in the final three and a half minutes.
 
The Colonels (5-11, 1-2 ASUN) had a 38-27 advantage in rebounds, including pulling down 15 offensive boards.  EKU out-scored North Alabama 21-10 on second-chance points and 36-28 in the paint.
 
Juan Cranford Jr. finished with 17 points.  Ball had 13 after going 3-for-3 from 3-point range.  Paul added a career-best 12 points to go along with five rebounds.
 
Jefferson led all players with 24 points for the Lions.  Corneilous Williams, who entered the game with an ASUN-best 9.8 rebounds per game and averaging 12.6 points per contest, was held to three points and three rebounds after being limited to 19 minutes due to foul trouble.
 
North Alabama jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead, going 3-for-3 from 3-point range.  The Lions entered the game shooting just 29% from deep on the season and averaging only 6.2 three-pointers per game, but went 8-for-16 (50%) in the first half.
 
The Colonels heated up from deep themselves and answered with a 14-2 run.  Montavious Myrick started it with a hook shot.  The spurt was capped by a Buttry 3-pointer and two three's from the left wing by Cranford.  He was fouled on the second and the ensuing free throw put the home team ahead 16-11 with 14:35 left in the opening half.
 
EKU went in front by 10, 35-25, on a 3-pointer from the right corner by Ball with 5:51 remaining before intermission.  However, UNA closed the first half with a 17-7 run to tie the game.  The Lions hit three more 3-pointers, the final coming from Braylon Patton tied the game at 42-42 with six seconds remaining.
 
The Colonels went 7-for-18 from behind the arc in the first half.  Cranford went 4-for-6 from 3-point range and had 15 points in the first half.
 
EKU pulled ahead by five early in the second half, 50-45, on a pair of free throws from Myrick.  UNA came right back and scored eight straight, taking a 53-50 lead on Jefferson's 3-pointer with 13:48 left in the game.
 
The Lions shot just 2-for-7 (29%) from 3-point range in the second half.  North Alabama shot 53% from the field for the game, but connected on only 14-of-25 (56%) at the free throw line.  The Colonels made 46% of their shots and went 19-for-23 (83%) at the stripe.
 
EKU will host Central Arkansas on Saturday at  4 p.m. ET.