Colonels Top Eagles In Thriller

Eastern Kentucky not having the season they wanted to have, goes without saying, but a familiar foe comes to Richmond tonight for an OVC match-up. This will be the 189th time the Colonels and Eagles have played with EKU leading the series 108-80, however the Eagles have won the last four games. The loser of tonight’s game will be eliminated from post season consideration. Junior Nick Mayo comes off a career high 36 points Thursday night where he made a career best 13 field goals including career best seven three pointers. Sophomore Dejuanta Weaver returned from injury Thursday night and knocked down a career best four three pointers in the loss to the Skyhawks. As a team EKU drained a season best 14 three pointers Thursday night. For Morehead State they have a streak of at least one three pointer made in 367 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 13, 2007. The numbers say this game is a toss up, both teams score 71 points a game, scoring defense both teams allow 76 points a game. This game may not mean much in the Ohio Valley but don’t tell that to the Colonels or Eagles.

The game started much as the last game did with Nick Mayo stepping back and knocking down 2 three pointers to helping the Colonels to an 11-0 lead forcing Morehead into a timeout. After the timeout the Eagles scored five unanswered but a couple of free throws from Eastern and two rim rattling dunks by DeAndre Dishman and Zach Charles pushed the lead back out to 9. Eagles went to the charity stripe early and often knocking down 9-12 to help them take a 30-29 lead. After a free throw from Dishman to tie it at 30 an alley opp dunk from Malek Green coupled with a missed layup from Mayo allowed the visitors to take a two point lead into the locker room 32-30. Zach Charles with 10 points at half on 4-4 shooting, Mayo with 8 points. Colonels commit 9 turnovers leading to 10 points for Morehead.

Second half began like the first, a Colonel run of 7 points to go on top 37-32. Once again though Morehead wouldn’t go away, a 5-0 run capped by a three pointer from Djimon Henson tied the game at 37. Couple of free throws by Mayo and then James Baker took over scoring 8 of Morehead’s next 10 points to put them up 47-41. Luckily for Colonel fans Baker picked up fouls numbers 3 and 4 and had to take a seat. Another 11-0 run by Eastern, a game which saw both teams make runs, saw them go up three at 55-52. Down two at 57-55 the Colonels missed the front end of a one and one situation where they could have tied the game. Ready for another run?, this time it was Morehead on a 7-0 run including five points from AJ Hicks to go up three at 63-60 with 3:30 left in the game. Colonels then go on a 9-2 run to take a 69-65 lead. Jordan Walker, who had made 9 straight from the free throw line, misses two which could’ve tied the game with :32 seconds left. Nick Mayo commits his 5th foul and fouls out with :300 seconds left but the Colonels didn’t need him as with only :11 seconds left JacQuess Hobbs hits a jumper to put EKU up for good. Colonels win 75-73! Eastern places four players in double figure scoring led by Nick Mayo’s 18. Mayo also had 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots, with the 4 blocks he has tied for first on the all-time block list at EKU. Only a junior he is on his way to becoming a legend for the Maroons. Zach Charles with 15 points and 7 rebounds, Hobbs with 15 points to go along with 5 assists and more importantly no turnovers, DeAndre Dishman 13 points and he just misses a double double with 9 rebounds. Peyton Brougton with 8 points and Weaver with 6 points. EKU now goes on the road to Belmont and Tennessee State before coming home for senior night on the 22nd against SEMO.