The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team fell to Eastern Washington, 83-62, in the MGM Resorts Main Event’s Middleweight Bracket consolation game on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.
EKU (2-3) outscored Eastern Washington (3-3), 46-44, in the second half; however, it was not enough to recover from a tough shooting performance in the first half.
The Colonels ran out to an early 11-9 lead when junior Nick Mayo converted a pair of free throws with 15:12 remaining in the first half. However, Mayo and EKU’s other top scorer, Dedric Boyd, then went to the bench with foul trouble and EWU took advantage, rolling off a 21-0 run and grabbing a 19 point-lead, 30-11, with 2:20 on the clock. A layup at the buzzer by Sir Washington sent the Eagles into the locker room at the half up by 23, 39-16.
EKU shot just 24 percent (6-of-25) from the field in the first half.
Mayo got back out on the court in the second half and finished with a game-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds and a block. Boyd also got in the rhythm in the second half, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds and one assist. Sophomore DeAndre Dishman contributed 11 points and six boards for the Colonels.
Junior Jackson Davis led all players in the game with nine rebounds.
EKU shot 43.3 percent (13-of-30) from the floor in the second stanza, but still finished with a season-low 34.5 percent (19-of-55) mark for the game.
The Colonels out-rebounded the Eagles, 42-36, but for the second straight game struggled with turnovers. Missing its top three point guards from the preseason due to injury, EKU turned the ball over 18 times on Wednesday.
Benas Griciunas led a balanced EWU scoring effort with 16 points.
EKU returns to action on Saturday when the Colonels host Asbury at 5:00 p.m.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Steve Fohl
Associate Director of EKUSports Communications
