Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team was defeated by University of North Florida with a final score of 77-64 on Wednesday night. The Colonels were doomed by a season-high 18 turnovers in the match. Isaiah Cozart and Michael Moreno each had a double-double. Cozart scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Moreno recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. This was Moreno’s third consecutive double-double.
The Colonels got off to a good start, taking a 5-point lead, 18-13, with a lay-up from Dardan Kapiti. However, North Florida responded with a 9-0 run on three 3-pointers, taking the lead 22-18 with 9:53 remaining in the first half. Despite EKU limiting North Florida to 39 percent shooting in the first half, the Ospreys were able to convert 6-of-15 from 3-point range and forced 10 turnovers. North Florida closed out the first half with a lead of 40-32.
In the second half, North Florida continued their momentum and scored nine of the first 11 points, extending their lead to 49-34. EKU tried to make a comeback, but North Florida kept adding to their lead, with Jadyn Parker’s lay-up capping off the run and giving the Ospreys a 49-34 lead with 17:18 left to play. Another 3-pointer from Chaz Lanier and Parker’s lay-up pushed the lead to 18 points, 58-40, with 14:52 remaining. Dorian James’ jumper finished off a 7-0 run and gave North Florida a 20-point lead, 60-40, with 12:59 on the clock.
EKU never got closer than 17 points until the final minute and a half of the game, and eventually fell to a 77-64 defeat. Jarius Hicklen led North Florida with 16 points, while EKU’s Cozart and Moreno each recorded a double-double.
EKU out-rebounded North Florida by nine, 48-39, but allowed 14 offensive rebounds and 16 second chance points. The Colonels made only 4-of-21 from beyond the arc, finishing with a poor 19 percent from deep.
Eastern Kentucky University will wrap up their regular season on the road against Jacksonville on Friday at 7 p.m. Despite the loss, EKU will still head to the ASUN tournament, scheduled to take place from March 3-7. The Colonels will hope to turn things around and make a deep run in the tournament to finish their season on a high note.