Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – A 12-0 run in the final three minutes of the game pushed Eastern Kentucky University to a 100-88 victory over Stetson on Saturday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
A jumper by Daniel Macgregor drew Stetson to within two points, 88-86, with 2:53 left in the contest.  However, the Hatters didn't score again until finding the bottom of the net on a jumper with 27 seconds to play.
 
The Colonels scored 12 unanswered, nine of which came in nine attempts at the free throw line.  Juan Cranford Jr. was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2:21 to go and connected on all three free throws for a 5-point cushion, 91-86.  After Stetson missed a shot on the other end, freshman MJ Williams put the game away for EKU with a 3-pointer from the right corner with 1:34 on the clock.
 
From there the Hatters missed three shots and turned the ball over on their next four possessions while the Colonels went 6-for-6 at the free throw line. 
 
Two free throws from Jackson Holt capped the run and put the home team ahead 100-86 with 40 seconds remaining.  Collin Kuhl putback a missed jumper with 27 seconds left to snap Stetson's drought and set the final score.
 
Cranford, a sophomore, finished with a career-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field.  He was 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point line and 3-for-3 at the stripe.  Williams also had a career-high, finishing with 22 points, seven assists, three steals and two rebounds.  Montavious Myrick tied his career-high with 19 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
 
EKU (9-16, 5-7 ASUN) shot 54% from the field for the game.  The Colonels went 22-for-26 (85%) at the free throw line and out-rebounded Stetson 34-30.  The Hatters shot 48% from the field for the game, went 13-for-27 (48%) from 3-point range and finished 17-for-20 (85%) at the free throw line.
 
Ethan Copeland had a team-best 23 points for Stetson (8-17, 4-8 ASUN).
 
The two teams played to a 48-48 tie in the first half.  The Colonels led by six early in the game, 9-3.  Stetson moved in front by nine, 27-18 on Alex Doyle's 3-pointer at the 11:09 mark.  The Hatters hit 5-of-7 from 3-point range to start the game. 
 
EKU battled back and took a 41-39 lead on Jayden Harris' layup with 3:44 to go in the opening period.  The Colonels led by two on two more occasions before Macgregor tied the score on a jumper with 44 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Stetson finished 7-for-15 (47%) from deep in the first half.  EKU was 4-for-14 (29%) from behind the arc.
 
The Hatters opened up a 5-point second half lead, 60-55, on Kuhl's 3-pointer.  The Colonels answered by scoring nine straight on four baskets from four different players.  Jalen Cooper's layup with 14:43 on the clock made it 64-60.
 
Myrick's jumper with 8:28 to play kept the margin at five, 79-74.  A three from Williams at the 3:19 mark put EKU in front 88-84.  Macgregor answered on the other end with his jumper to cut the margin to two before the Colonels went on their run.
 
EKU will take to the road to face Lipscomb on Wednesday in Nashville.  The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.