Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky used a big first half run to roll to a 105-54 season-opening victory over Kentucky Christian on Monday at Baptist Health Arean.
 
Louisville native Damone King led the team with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field.  Senior Yvens Paul had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Colonels scored the first five points of the game and led 12-6 after a layup from Paul.
 
After the Knights drew within four, 12-4, on a Keaton Baird layup, EKU went on a 23-2 run.  Drae Vasser started it with a 3-pointer.  Jackson Holt stretched the margin to double figures, 22-10, with a 3-pointer.  King's jumper finished off the run and had the home team ahead 35-10 with 7:56 to go in the opening period.
 
The lead ballooned to 33, 51-18, on a layup from Justin McCarter.  McCarter's jumper at the buzzer kept it at 33 at the break, 55-22.
 
Eastern shot 49% from the field in the first 20 minutes of action.  Kentucky Christian hit just 33% and was 0-for-8 from behind the arc.
 
A turn-around jumper from Josh Lowe with 11:36 left in the game pushed the margin to 40-plus, 76-35.  Omer Hamama's 3-pointer gave EKU a 51-point lead, 94-43, with 5:08 remaining.  Newcomer Bobby Hardison's layup handed Eastern Kentucky its largest lead of the game at 55 points, 103-48, with less than a minute to go.
 
The Colonels shot 51% in the second half and 50% (42-for-84) for the game.  The Knights hit on 40% for the game, but were 2-for-17 from deep.
 
McCarter contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.  Vasser and freshman Amari Owens each had 10 points.
 
EKU had a 52-26 rebounding edge and scored 27 points off 24 KCU turnovers. 
 
LeMar Northington II led Kentucky Christian with 14 points.
 
The Colonels will host Midway University on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.