In a hard-fought battle at Baptist Health Arena, Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team faced a 17-point deficit in the second half but staged a remarkable comeback effort, ultimately falling short in an 80-74 loss to the University of Tennessee at Martin on Friday.
The Colonels (2-1) found themselves trailing 65-48 with 12:25 remaining in the game before initiating an impressive 22-7 run. Tayshawn Comer’s crucial 3-pointer capped an eight-point streak, narrowing the gap to 65-56. Leland Walker and Isaiah Cozart contributed with a 3-pointer and a free throw, respectively, as EKU fought back to make it a two-point game at 72-70 with 4:07 left on the clock.
Despite closing in, the Colonels faced adversity in the final minutes. The Skyhawks (3-1) managed to secure the win, taking advantage of three offensive rebounds and extending their lead to four points with just 21.2 seconds remaining.
Leland Walker led the Colonels’ scoring effort with 21 points and five rebounds, while Devontae Blanton contributed 12 points, six boards, and four assists. UT Martin’s Jacob Crews countered with 20 points, and Jordan Sears added 18 points, crucially making two baskets after EKU closed the gap to two.
Shooting percentages played a significant role in the outcome, with EKU making 37 percent of their field goals and 28 percent from beyond the arc. In contrast, the Skyhawks shot 46 percent overall and 42 percent from long range.
Michael Moreno’s early 3-pointers propelled EKU to a 12-7 lead, with his second shot moving him past Mike Rose into second place on the program’s career 3-pointers list. Moreno, now just 10 behind record holder Matt Witt, finished the game with 11 points and eight rebounds.
UT Martin responded to EKU’s early lead with a 12-0 run, turning a 5-point deficit into a 7-point lead. Despite EKU closing in, the Skyhawks managed to secure a 10-point halftime lead at 46-36.
The Colonels opened the second half strong, narrowing the deficit to eight. However, UT Martin extended their lead once again, reaching a 17-point advantage with a 3-pointer from Justus Jackson.
Looking ahead, the Colonels will wrap up play in the EKU Classic on Tuesday against Prairie View A&M, with the game set to tip off at 12 p.m. Fans can anticipate another exciting matchup as EKU aims to bounce back from the narrow defeat and showcase their resilience on the court.
