RICHMOND, Ky. – Freshman Nick Mayo scored 10 points during a 15-2 run to end the first half as Eastern Kentucky University cruised to a 101-67 victory over visiting Thomas More College on Wednesday.
After a lay-up by Brandon Horne drew TMC to within three, 36-33, with 6:12 left in the first half, Mayo and the Colonels (5-1) went to work on both ends of the court. The freshman had three dunks, including one off an offensive rebound, before knocking down a three-pointer from the left wing.
Junior Jaylen Babb-Harrison connected on a three-pointer from the left corner to finish the first half scoring. Thomas More made just one shot over the final six minutes. Eastern led by 16, 51-35, at the break.
It was EKU’s fourth straight victory. The Colonels entered the game 17th in the nation in scoring at 91.4 points per game. Eastern is averaging 100 points at home this season.
Eastern Kentucky shot 59 percent from the field for the game and 41 percent from three-point range. The Colonels came into the contest sixth in the country in three-point shooting and 11th in field goal percentage.
Senior Jarelle Reischel just missed the first triple-double in EKU history, recording 16 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and five steals. Mayo made 9-of-11 attempts from the field and finished with a game-best 21 points, all of which came in the first half. Junior JaVontae Hawkins contributed 16 points and six rebounds.
Richmond native Daniel Parke saw the floor late in the game and scored his first points as a Colonel. The redshirt sophomore hit both of his shots from the field, his only free throw attempt and had a steal.
Thomas More (1-2) stayed close early by hitting three-pointers. The Saints made their first three, and four of their first six, from behind the arc. TMC led 11-8 after a triple by Jacob Hall. The Colonels were up four, 15-11, and looking to pull away when Austin Young drained the team’s fourth 3-pointer in the first 5:09 of the game. Eastern stretched its lead to six, 25-19, before Pauly Sawyer cut it in half with another three-pointer.
After Sawyer’s trey, Thomas More went 0-of-4 from long range the rest of the half.
A lay-up by Hawkins and a put-back by Reischel gave EKU a 31-point lead, 86-55, with 6:02 left in the game. Eastern Kentucky went in front by 37 in the final minute of play.
Junior Stockwell had a team-best 11 points for Thomas More. The Saints turned the ball over 21 times and were out-scored off turnovers 25-7.
The Colonels conclude a stretch of five straight home games on Saturday when Southern Utah visits McBrayer Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.