The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team led Oregon State at halftime; however, the host Beavers rallied past the Colonels in the second half to score a 74-62 win on Tuesday night at Gill Coliseum.
EKU (4-5) trailed 18-9 early in the game, before a three-pointer from the corner by freshman A.J. Youngman ignited the Colonels on a 15-2 run. A lay-up by junior Nick Mayo capped the run and gave EKU a 24-20 lead with 7:04 remaining in the first half.
Oregon State (5-3) retook the lead and went up by five, 31-26, when Stephen Thompson Jr. knocked down a shot with 2:55 on the clock. However, sophomore Asante Gist closed the half by draining three consecutive three-pointers to send the Colonels into the locker room at halftime up by four, 35-31.
OSU opened the second half on 12-2 run, and a jumper by Tres Tinkle handed the Beavers a 43-37 advantage with 15:24 remaining in the game. The Colonels stayed within striking distance, as a three-pointer by senior Dillon Avare made it a three-point deficit, 57-54, with 8:36 on the clock.
Eastern trailed by eight, 70-62, with 1:29 left. The Colonels had a chance to cut it to six when their full-court press forced a turnover; however, they immediately turned the ball back over and Oregon State got a dunk on the other end to seal the victory.
Mayo and Gist paced EKU with 15 points apiece. Mayo added team-bests in rebounds (nine) and assists (four).
Freshman Dedric Boyd contributed 12 points for the Colonels.
EKU shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field and knocked down nine three-pointers on the night, one shy of its season high.
Thompson led all players in the game with 26 points, to go along with six assists and three rebounds.
EKU returns to action on Sunday when the Colonels go on the road to face Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m. ET.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Steve Fohl
Associate Director of EKUSports Communications
