The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team fell to rival Morehead State, 75-62, on Monday night at Johnson Arena.
EKU (5-2, 1-1 OVC) trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half. However, the Colonels used a 19-6 run to get back into the game. A breakaway dunk by junior Tre King made it a one-point game, 30-29, with 3:39 remaining in the half.
A layup by freshman Wendell Green Jr. sent EKU into the locker room down by two, 35-33.
Redshirt freshman Curt Lewis buried a jumper on EKU’s first possession of the second half to tie the game.
Green Jr. gave the Colonels their first – and only – lead of the game when he converted a jumper to make it 42-40 with 16:56 remaining.
Morehead State (4-4, 1-1 OVC) responded with an 11-0 run, as a pair of foul shots by James Baker made it 51-42 in favor of the home team.
Eastern got back to within six, 56-50, following a free throw by Lewis with 8:58 on the clock, but that was as close as the Colonels got. Morehead State slowly pulled away down the stretch.
EKU was led by King, who finished with 17 points, three rebounds and three steals. Green Jr. posted a career-high 16 points in the loss, to go along with five assists. Lewis finished with 13 points and six rebounds.
The Colonels shot only 16 percent (4-of-25) from three-point range.
Eastern won the turnover battle, 20-13, but lost the rebounding battle, 38-27.
Morehead State shot 51 percent from the field (23-of-45) and 78 percent from the free throw line (25-of-32).
KJ Hunt paced four Eagles in double figures with 17 points.
EKU returns home to host Campbellsville Harrodsburg on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
— www.EKUSports.com ––
Steve Fohl
Associate Director of EKUSports Communications
