NASHVILLE, Tenn. – — The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team was defeated by Belmont, 87-56, on Thursday night at the Curb Event Center.
Sophomore Jomaru Brown poured in a game-high 25 points in the loss. He added five rebounds and four assists.
Fellow sophomore Tre King chipped in 10 points for the Colonels.
After EKU (6-12, 3-2 OVC) took an early 5-2 lead following a King dunk, Belmont exploded on a 20-2 run and grabbed a 22-7 advantage following a layup by Nick Muszynski with 10:57 remaining in the first half.
The Bruins led by as many as 25 in the first half, but Brown caught fire late in the half and pulled the Colonels back into it. A three-pointer by Brown with less than a minute on the clock sent EKU into the locker room at the break down by 16, 44-28.
Eastern scored the first six points of the second half and pulled to within 10, 44-34, when King converted a layup with 18:44 on the clock.
Belmont, however, responded with a 14-5 run and took a 19-point, 58-39, on a Seth Adelsperger layup with 13:08 remaining. The Bruins were in control the rest of the way.
Muszynski led a balanced Belmont scoring effort with 16 points and eight rebounds.
EKU held Belmont to only 28 percent shooting from deep (8-of-29); however, the Bruins outscored the Colonels, 46-14, in the paint and out-rebounded the Colonels, 56-29.
Eastern returns to action on Saturday at Tennessee State. Tip is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.
