Stomes helps Eastern Kentucky knock off the Bears, 76-62

Boxscore

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Justin Stommes scored 20 points to lead Eastern Kentucky to a 76-62 victory over Morgan State on Tuesday.

The Colonels (8-4), who had lost two straight games, shot 51.1 percent from the field (23-for-45) and used a 10-1 run to break away early in the second half in the first round of the Dr Pepper Classic.

Eastern Kentucky led 36-31 before Joshua Jones and Josh Taylor hit 3-pointers to help the Colonels take a 44-31 advantage with 17:30 remaining in the game.

Morgan State's Kevin Thompson hit a free throw before Jones capped the run with a layup and a 46-32 lead with 16:25 left. The Colonels' lead stayed in double figures the rest of the way.

Jones finished with 16 points and Taylor added 15 for Eastern Kentucky.

Reggie Holmes scored 25 points to lead Morgan State (7-5), the 11th time in 12 games he's scored at least 20 points. Thompson added 14 points.

Eastern Kentucky capitalized at the free throw line against the Bears by finishing with season highs in both free throws made (23) and free throws attempted (29). Stommes led the Colonels by going 9-for-10 (90 percent) at the charity stripe.

Morgan State went 9-for-19 from the stripe and the 62 points were a season low for the Bears.

The Bears will face Long Island on Wednesday night in the consolation game of the Dr Pepper Classic.Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Blackbirds lost to host Chattanooga 76-59, dropping to 4-7 on the season.

Bear Bite
♦ Reggie Holmes needs to just 2 more points to move in front of Robert Gordon (1,532 pts.; 1963-67) for No. 5 all-time scorer in school history, and 10 points to pass Ernest Garrett (1,540 pts.; 1952-55) and move into the No. 4 spot.

Print Friendly Version